Mino Raiola has suggested that Chelsea are only one of ten teams in world football who could afford to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.

Italian website Tuttomercatoweb reported yesterday that Blues owner Roman Abramovich wants to snap up the 20-year-old “at all costs” in the summer, having set aside €300m (£258m) for new recruits at the end of the season.

Speaking about Haaland’s future, his agent Raiola said that every single sporting director would be keen on signing the Norwegian international if he becomes available:

“Only a maximum of 10 clubs can afford to buy [Haaland] and give the platform you would like after you’ve been in Dortmund… and four of those clubs are in [England]. I don’t think there’s a sports director or trainer in the world who would say ‘not interested’. It’s like saying: ‘Is there a Formula 1 team who would not be interested in having Lewis Hamilton?'”

Haaland does have a €75m (£65m) release clause but this can only be activated at the end of next season, so if Abramovich wants the forward this summer, it is likely to cost a lot more.

Dortmund could come under pressure to sell if they fail to qualify for the Champions League and, with the global health crisis deflating prices, Chelsea may feel it is the right time to invest in a generational talent.