Chelsea are hoping to pull off yet another spectacular signing. Not content with landing the likes of Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell during the summer transfer window, they’ve now set their sights on snaring Erling Haaland. However, much will depend on their relationship with Mino Raiola - whose failure to deliver Romelu Lukaku to Stamford Bridge impacted their relationship.
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For Conte, it was a kick in the teeth. He felt aggrieved Chelsea didn’t win the race for the player’s signature, especially given how they’d been provided with plenty of encouragement behind the scenes.
But the truth of the matter is they did everything they could. It was Raiola, ultimately, who ensured they miss out.
And now Chelsea are planning to deal with the super-agent again.
They want to sign Haaland, who scored his 28th and 29th goals of the campaign for Borussia Dortmund in their 4-2 defeat to Bayern Munich on Saturday.
And if that’s to happen, they’ll have to mend their relationship with Raiola.
Quite how things are between both parties is currently unclear. But a deal won’t be happening if Chelsea still hold a grudge over the Lukaku saga from four years previously.
There’s been talk of a move to Real Madrid for Haaland but it’s hard to see that happening. Florentino Perez has signed just one Raiola client over the years in Alphonse Areola, who was loaned in to provide backup for Thibaut Courtois.
Manchester United have a hit and miss relationship with the super-agent. While the Paul Pogba situation is sensitive, Ed Woodward and Raiola get on well.
So Chelsea may have to forget the past.
Missing out on Lukaku was a major blow and Conte never recovered. Alvaro Morata, signed from Real Madrid instead, was a big Premier League flop.
Chelsea transfer news: Blues will have to deal with Mino Raiola to land Erling Haaland (Image: GETTY)
If Chelsea have burned their bridges with Raiola, then they stand no chance of enticing Haaland to the capital.
Yet if they can prove they’re ready to move on, a spectacular deal could be on the cards.
Meanwhile, Paul Merson recently urged Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel to land Haaland this summer - insisting he’s the final piece of the jigsaw.
“Of all the teams who are in for Erling Haaland, Chelsea are the ones who need him most," he wrote in the Daily Star.
“They have always been successful with someone who has a presence up front and Haaland has that. He’s going to score bundles wherever he goes.
Chelsea transfer news: Erling Haaland is also wanted by Man Utd and Real Madrid (Image: GETTY)
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“And if you buy him this summer, you still have the prospect of being able to sell him for a profit later down the line because of his age.
“I’m not sure he’s such a good fit for Manchester City, where he probably wouldn’t play as much.
“But for whoever gets him, it will be worth it. He puts up numbers and he keeps on doing it. Whoever signs him will have a chance of winning the league.
“Manchester United should also be in for him. Edinson Cavani has done great there but he isn’t the future of Manchester United. If they went and got Haaland it would take them to another level. But do they go for Harry Kane instead?
“Kane isn’t going to Chelsea. No chance. But he might go to United. And that would leave Chelsea to go for Haaland.”