Chelsea have huge transfer kitty ‘set aside’ as Erling Haaland and Romelu Lukaku wanted

Erling Haaland: All you need to know about Norwegian star

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Chelsea have reportedly put a significant sum of money aside for this summer’s transfer activity, despite failing to get a single player permanently through the door so far. Erling Haaland and Romelu Lukaku are two of their key targets up top, and they are certainly where Thomas Tuchel will hope the cash burning a hole in Roman Abramovich’s pocket is spent.

Haaland has been their best-publicised transfer target this summer, given the Norwegian catapulted himself to megastar status after bagging 41 goals last season.

The Blues looked to be preparing an audacious move, although so far the striker remains in Germany.

Corriere della Sera claim that a £115million war chest has been ‘set aside’ at Stamford Bridge to finance their summer transfer activity.

Although it represents a sum of money big enough to attract virtually every striker in the world, Haaland would be one of the chosen few to remain out of reach.

Dortmund supposedly value him at £150m, a sum which would make him one of the most expensive footballers in history.

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Presumably knowing that the 20-year-old was out of reach, transfer chief Marina Granovskaia reportedly tried her luck with a player-plus-cash offer earlier in the window.

The manoeuvre failed to materialise, however, as BVB rejected the deal which would have seen Tammy Abraham move the other way.

Although their budget leaves them so close, yet so far from their prime target, such an offer would surely tempt Inter Milan into the sale of Lukaku, though Express Sport understands the forward has little interest in a return to England. 

The Belgian lashed in 24 Serie A goals last season, claiming the league’s player of the year award on the way to Inter’s first Scudetto since 2010.

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Furthermore, the Italian side are known to be in poor financial health, so an offer of that magnitude would be extremely difficult for the club to turn down.

Although it would mean the loss of their star striker, it would also give new manager, Simone Inzaghi, the necessary funds for him to scour the market for his own players.

On the flip side, Lukaku’s past comments indicate that he is keen to build on his momentum with Inter and challenge for the league again next season.

With the striker in the form of his life, returning to England, where he experienced an up-and-down few years, would certainly be an eyebrow-raising decision.

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Lukaku spent three years contracted to Chelsea between 2011 and 2014, before ultimately failing to make the grade and being sold to Everton.

Unfortunately, when it comes to Chelsea’s transfer ‘Plan B’, they may have the money without yet nailing down the player’s desire to sign.

The point remains, what will Chelsea do with all that cash? Tuchel will undoubtedly want to bring in reinforcements this summer, although it remains to be seen whether they will go all out for a big name, or keep their hands in their pockets until their priorities become available in the future.

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