Opinion: Borussia Dortmund are more likely to try to keep Erling Haaland than sign Federico Chiesa

According to reports in Italy, Borussia Dortmund are said to be considering a move for Federico Chiesa should Erling Haaland leave next summer. However, the chances of the reports being true are very slim. 

Sources from Italy have circulated a claim that Borussia Dortmund are considering a move for Federico Chiesa in summer of 2022. The Italian international has become an integral part of Juventus’ squad since his move from Fiorentina last fall, scoring 14 and assisting a further 16 across all competitions for the Bianconeri.

It is a strange headline to come across no matter how it is posed, and it is far from the typical Dortmund transfer if we’re being honest. Chiesa is an established star at a storied (albeit currently struggling) club. In addition to that, Chiesa isn’t technically even a Juventus player yet. He is still on loan from Fiorentina until the summer of 2022, when Juventus have an obligation to buy the player upon the expiry of said loan.

The stipulations of the obligation to buy indicate that Juventus will have to pay Fiorentina 40 million euros, with add-ons that could take the deal upwards of 60 million euros.

With Chiesa on loan at the club and only set to become a full Juventus player the same year that Haaland is allegedly supposed to be replaced, it is almost impossible for me to think that they would look to sell him right away. Juventus may find themselves in monetary turmoil at the moment, but they will value Chiesa at a much higher price tag than what they will eventually pay for him when he officially “leaves” Fiorentina.

This would put the player far beyond Dortmund’s price range. BVB haven’t ever spent more than 30 million euros in transfer fees on one player. And the chances that they will pay a club record fees for an already established player like Chiesa are improbable at best. But even if by some chance Dortmund could afford Chiesa, why would they even entertain the notion of signing him in the first place?

It would be more likely for Dortmund to try and keep hold of the Norwegian than it would be for them to jump into the market and sign a player like Chiesa, who is by no means a striker like Haaland. The Black and Yellows have always had natural a centre forward in their squad. And there is no way they will look to change that if Haaland leaves next summer, especially at that price point. The more likely scenario is that they will look to scout the next Haaland and sign him instead if the Norwegian international does decide to leave in the summer.

Chiesa is undoubtedly a talented player. But the incredibly high potential cost of signing him, combined with the fact that he is not a striker makes this a very unrealistic rumour to begin with. Italian outlets have a knack of coming up with transfer rumours that do not have much truth to them. And this rumour appears to be along those lines as well.

It will of course be an immense task to convince Haaland either way. The player is likely to be courted by every top club on the planet next summer; clubs that are able to be far more competitive in terms of the wages they are able to offer. Negotiations with agent Mino Raiola have often proved difficult for many a club, and will likely be yet another hurdle for Dortmund to navigate. All in all, while this alternative is a long shot, it’s still far more likely than Dortmund actually looking to sign Chiesa as Haaland’s direct replacement.