Transfer gossip: New Haaland deal already as Chelsea look to spend and spend

Manchester City are already trying to protect themselves against losing Erling Haaland, while Chelsea are ready to splash out again in 2023.

HAALAND DEAL TALKS ALREADY ON
Erling Haaland has only been here two minutes (though his statistics are already astonishing) and Manchester City are already trying to negotiate a new deal so they do not lose him in 2024 to a release clause rumoured in Spain that actually benefits Real Madrid.

“The information I have is that there is an exit clause for Haaland in the second year, and the curious thing is that with very beneficial conditions compared to the rest for a club, which is Real Madrid,” said Fernando Sanz on Spanish TV station El Chiringuito. He claimed the exit clause was set at £174m.

And now Mundo Deportivo say that City are already trying to renegotiate his contract to take out any such clauses, which will mean paying him more than the £375,000 a week he currently earns.

CHELSEA AND RICE TO MEET AGAIN
There was talk last week of Chelsea eyeing Jude Bellingham but logic dictates they are not even in that race while Manchester City and Real Madrid are interested, so 90 Min are here to tell us that actually, ‘West Ham United captain Declan Rice remains top of Chelsea’s wanted list in 2023’. He is certainly a more achievable target, and should be cheaper than the £120m they were quoted this summer.

The report continues that ‘Rice is expecting to leave the club next summer in order to further his career, with Chelsea seen as the frontrunners to sign him’. Chelsea was of course the club where Rice began his career and formed his friendship with Mason Mount.

There is talk of Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United interest but Rice seems absolutely nailed on to take on the long-term mantle of N’Golo Kante in that Chelsea midfield.

CHELSEA LOOK TO LEAO
‘Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi and 90 million for Leao: between Milan and Chelsea it’s always the market’ is the headline on calciomercato, who are clear that any deal Chelsea make for Christopher Nkunku does not end their interest in Rafael Leao. The two clubs will remain in contact and have a very good relationship.

Although Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi are mentioned in the headline, they also throw in a reference to Trevoh Chalobah, because Milan are clearly in the market for all Chelsea’s cast-offs, especially if they can get their hands on a winger who has claimed four goals and four assists in Serie A this…