Liverpool are the frontrunners to pull off a sensational transfer for Borussia Dortmund phenomenon Erling Haaland.
That's the verdict of former Bayern Munich and Dortmund striker Michael Rummenigge, who anticipates Haaland will dominate football for years to come alongside Paris Saint-Germain sensation Kylian Mbappe.
Haaland, 21, has started the season in typically-blistering form with an astonishing five goals and three assists in just two appearances.
The Norway international is one of the hottest properties in European football and is expected to leave Dortmund next summer, when a release clause valued between €75million (£64m) and €100million (£85m) will reportedly come into effect.
The likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid have been heavily linked with Haaland, but Rummenigge claims Liverpool may well be the favourites to complete the signing.
Asked whether Haaland and Mbappe will set the standard for footballers going forward, he told Sport1 : "Yes. They could get there.
"We’ll have to wait and see where he (Haaland) goes after this season. "Real and Barca have financial problems so I could imagine him moving to England.
"His father used to play there too. I could well imagine Liverpool for Haaland."
Alfe-Inge Haaland spent a decade in the Premier League playing for Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Manchester City.
He now advises his son along with super-agent Mino Raiola, with the duo travelling to various European clubs earlier this year for exploratory talks over Haaland's future.
But it appears the former Molde prospect will be staying put at Dortmund this season, which Rummenigge is pleased to see.
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"Haaland is an exceptional phenomenon," said Rummenigge, who is the brother of former Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz.
"There is a player like that every 30 or 40 years. I don’t know what his career plans are, but for Dortmund it’s great that he’s still wearing the black and yellow jersey this season.
"He is an absolute goal machine, his opponents only fly away to the right and left when he starts running. I’ve never seen anything like him at that age.
"The only drawback in his size is his headers. He doesn’t score enough goals. Otherwise, Haaland is a perfect player."
Rummenigge's glowing report on Haaland echoes that of his Dortmund teammate Giovanni Reyna, who declared he "keeps on getting better".
Reyna added: "It seems like every day he’s (Haaland's) picking up something new and adding it to his game.
"It’s hard to say what the ceiling is for him. He can be unbelievable, he can be amazing. I mean, he already is. He can really be one of the best ever."
