Premier League giants Chelsea were reportedly keen on signing Erling Haaland this summer, but they were priced out of a move by his agent’s demands.
Italian super agent Mino Raiola demanded significant fees for himself as well as record wages for his client.
The Haaland camp demanded a package worth in the region of £275 million.
Therefore, the Champions League winners decided to switch their targets and sign Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan instead.
The Belgian international completed a club-record move to Stamford Bridge earlier on in the summer, and he made his Premier League debut against Arsenal last week.
Lukaku managed to put on an impressive display on his debut, and he scored against Chelsea’s London rivals as well.
The 28-year-old has developed into one of the best strikers in the world, and there is no doubt that he is a quality alternative to Haaland.
The Blues needed to sign a top-class striker to compete with Manchester City for the Premier League title this season, and Lukaku’s arrival certainly makes them one of the frontrunners to win the league title.
Meanwhile, Haaland is still expected to move from Borussia Dortmund next summer. It will be interesting to see if Raiola and the player are willing to lower their demands.
The player has been linked with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid in recent months as well, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up.
