Haaland transfer race opens up as Raiola claims Real Madrid can afford him

Erling Haaland's agent Mino Raiola says Real Madrid have the money to sign his client this summer – despite Florentino Perez claiming a deal was 'impossible' without the European Super League.

Madrid president Perez last week said without cash from the controversial breakaway competition, clubs would not be able to afford the likes of Haaland or Kylian Mbappe.

Haaland has been linked with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea ahead of the summer transfer window – but it remains to be seen whether any club can front up the cash required to land him from Borussia Dortmund.

Barcelona are also believed to be keen – and it has been reported that Lionel Messi has agreed to halve his wages on condition the club uses the cash saving to take Haaland to the Nou Camp.

Now super agent Raiola has thrown the race wide open by claiming that Los Blancos have the money to sign the striker – who could cost as much as £160million.

" Real Madrid can afford Erling Haaland," Raiola told Diario AS . "They have money to sign him."

The agent's comments contradict those made by last week by Perez, who said the La Liga giants would not be able to afford big-money signings following the collapse of the Super League plans.

"In general, there will not be big transfers this summer," he told El Larguero .

"When money does not flow from the rich clubs to the poor clubs, everyone suffers.

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"It's impossible to make signings like Mbappe and Haaland, in general, not just for Real Madrid, without the Super League."

Dortmund are believed to be determined to hold on to Haaland for one more season, with the 20-year-old's £65million transfer clause set to come into play in the summer of 2022.

However, their hopes of keeping the 37-goal hitman for another campaign could rest on whether or not they qualify for next season's Champions League, with the club currently fifth in the Bundesliga.

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