Jermaine Jenas backs Chelsea to win transfer race for €200m star

Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has tipped Chelsea as favorites to seal a deal for the in-demand Erling Haaland.

Jermaine Jenas reckons Chelsea are the only club that ‘could get Erling Haaland tomorrow’.

The Englishman thinks the Blues are more likely to pursue a deal for Haaland this year and added the striker’s potential arrival will establish them as Premier League title challengers once more.

As things stand, Haaland is perhaps the most in-demand player in Europe. The 20-year-old’s prolific form has stirred interest. In fact, recent reports have claimed Borussia Dortmund have slapped a €200 million price tag on their goal machine.

But with a billionaire owner in Roman Abramovich ready to back Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel in the transfer window, Jenas is confident a deal can be done.

“Chelsea are the only football club that could get Haaland tomorrow,” said Jenas as quoted on Football London.

“That is how their model works. The Haaland deal is very complicated. There are a lot of payments, the dad, the agent, then you have to get the top fee to get him out from Borussia Dortmund this year.

“If you wait a year, you get him for significantly less than you would now. But you are in a competitive market where it will drag the price higher.”

The former midfielder added: “Chelsea can pay the wages. You can easily see Roman Abramovich turning to Thomas Tuchel and going, ‘Listen, here is £200m go and get what you want’.”

Jenas also doubts Romelu Lukaku will return to Chelsea in the summer. The Belgian, who made 15 appearances for the Blues between 2011 and 2014, has recently poured doubt on leaving Inter Milan.

“Is [Romelu] Lukaku the one? I don’t think they go back very much with players. I think they will go younger and go with Haaland,” continued Jenas. “I think they may go for it this year.

“They know they are probably the only ones along with Man City or a PSG that can move that quick and that fast to make it happen. If they get Haaland, they will compete for the league, no doubt.”