Chelsea striker rumors: Belotti, Aguero, Dybala, Haaland latest

Andrea Belotti

Torino’s Andrea Belotti has emerged as a cheaper option to reinforce the centre forward position, and Chelsea are reportedly among those with some interest in the Italy international whose contract expires in 2022.

Torino are still trying to convince the 27-year-old of their ambitions, but there hasn’t been any progress on a new contract. Belotti apparently wants to play Champions League, or at least Europa League football, and is thus hoping to solicit some interest from the likes of AC Milan, Napoli, Fiorentina, Napoli, Atletico Madrid, Olympique Lyon, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, and of course, Chelsea.

Sergio Aguero

Kun Aguero appears to be Chelsea’s first alternative should a move for Erling Braut Haaland fail to materialize, but the Blues are not alone in that pursuit.

According to Diario Sport, Barcelona are set to make an offer, though Aguero would need need to take a wage cut to move to Spain. Juventus are also interested and are apparently willing to match his wage demands, but Barca are hopeful that Aguero’s desire to play with Lionel Messi will win out in the end. Aguero is also evaluating Chelsea’s offer, as per Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), with Chelsea’s ambitious sporting project possibly quite enticing.

Paulo Dybala

Another attacker on Chelsea’s wish list appears to be Paulo Dybala, with Juventus said to be open to selling him for the right price. According to Corriere dello Sport, contract talks have stalled — Dybala’s current contract expires in 2022 — and as a last resort, Juventus are contemplating his departure for €50m. An exchange with PSG for Mauro Icardi is seemingly a possibility, although, as Tuttosport notes, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur as well as Chelsea are also looking at the 27-year-old.

As per Sky Sport Italia, Chelsea are willing to throw in Emerson Palmieri as makeweight, though Dybala may not actually be looking to leave Juventus. According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Diario AS), he wants to fulfill his contractual obligations, and then leave next year should the situation come to that.

Erling Haaland

Finally, coming to Erling Braut Haaland, the Athletic have analysed the humongous costs involved in a potential Haaland deal, with figures of £400m over five years mooted.

Unsurprisingly, Manchester United have started to distance themselves from such talks, and don’t want to get into a Jadon Sancho-style saga like last summer. (They will instead focus their attentions on the “less-expensive” Harry Kane, apparently). Bayern Munich (and Barcelona) are also out of the race for this summer, but as the Daily Mail reports, they could come into contention in 2022 when Haaland’s release clause becomes active.

Super-agent Mino Raiola remains pretty bullish about securing a move this summer still for Haaland however.

“I can confirm that I was in Dortmund for talks. Michael Zorc made it clear to us that BVB does not want to sell Erling this summer. I respect that opinion, but that does not automatically mean that I also agree. BVB were very clear in their views. We are okay with that.”

-Mino Raiola; source: Sport1