It’s scary to think how good Erling Haaland will be in a few years’ time.
The Borussia Dortmund starlet turned 20 in July but has already cemented his status as one of the world’s best strikers over the past 12 months.
Haaland scored a remarkable 28 goals in 22 games for Red Bull Salzburg during the first half of the 2019-20 campaign before sealing a €20 million move to Borussia Dortmund in January.
He immediately hit the ground running at Signal Iduna Park, netting a stunning 23-minute hat-trick on his debut against Augsburg.
Haaland ended the season with 16 goals in 18 games and has already bagged 10 goals in 10 appearances for the German club so far this term.
Former Italy international Christian Vieri named Haaland as the world’s best striker in April and believes the Norway international will eventually be worth as much as €300 million.
"Haaland is the strongest of all and has done well to choose Borussia Dortmund, the best club to enhance his talents,” Vieri was quoted saying by Goal.com. “In a couple of years he will go to a great team for €200m (£175m), maybe €300m (£262m)."
And it seems Vieri’s prediction might well come true.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Real Madrid are ‘optimistic’ about signing Haaland, who is understood to have a verbal agreement in place with Dortmund for a 2022 exit.
The report adds that Madrid have been monitoring Haaland for an extensive period of time and are convinced that he is the attacking player they need to reinforce the team.
It had previously been reported that Haaland has a €75 million release clause in his contract, but AS say this isn’t the case.
What *does* exist, according to the same source, is a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between Haaland, representative Mino Raiola and Dortmund, which will allow the striker to leave in 2022 if he wishes.
However, a fee will still need to be agreed between the buying club and Dortmund at the time.
While competition for Haaland’s signature will inevitably be fierce, Madrid believe the presence of midfielder Martin Odegaard will enhance their chances of signing the forward.
The two Norway internationals are close friends.
Odegaard, who impressed on loan at Real Sociedad last season, has made three first-team appearances for Los Blancos this season.
Furthermore, Madrid believe the ‘solid professional ties’ between Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke and Florentino Perez will also help them to secure the signature of a striker with the potential to become one of the best players of his era.