Borussia Dortmund are cautiously optimistic that Erling Haaland will not leave them next summer, when Manchester City could make a move for the Norway star.
Following their abortive attempts to sign Harry Kane this summer, the Blues are still in the market for a striker, and Haaland is a live option, especially as it is believed he has a £64million release clause that will kick in at some point next year.
But City would still move if Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy budges from his refusal to discuss selling Kane, either in January or - more likely - next summer.
Haaland is being eyed by most of Europe’s top clubs, but Dortmund’s decision to sell Jadon Sancho to Manchester United this year meant they were under no financial pressure to off-load him - but that could change next summer.
Still, the Bundesliga club’s head of first-team football Sebastian Kehl said he is willing to put up money - though not a lot - on Haaland remaining with them beyond this season.
Kehl said: “Of course, we are trying to give him the feeling that Borussia Dortmund continues to be a top address for him and that he can still develop here
“The decision has not yet been made, but I would bet €100 (on him staying).”
Haaland is currently out with a hip injury but Dortmund are again well placed to reach the Champions League, sitting just a point behind leaders Bayern Munich, and are also favourites to reach the knockout phase of this year’s competition.
Bayern have also been strongly linked with Haaland, but their president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has backed up Kehl’s claims, saying that the Dortmund chief executive told him they are confident of holding onto the 21-year-old player for at least another year.
"I recently had an espresso with my ex-colleague Aki Watzke in Munich,” said Rummenigge in his column in Bild.
“He told me that he was very optimistic that Haaland would still play for Borussia Dortmund next season."
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