Sebastian Kehl expresses surprise at Erling Haaland’s comments
By Tushar Bahl
Sebastian Kehl has admitted that he was surprised by Erling Haaland’s comments after the striker said that he was being pressured by Borussia Dortmund into making a decision about his future now.
Erling Haaland fuelled speculation about his future on Friday when he claimed that the Borussia Dortmund bosses are pressuring him into making a decision on his future now when all he wants to do is play football. Sebastian Kehl was asked about the striker’s comments on Sunday and admitted that they left him by surprise.
The Borussia Dortmund head of players department was a guest on the Sport1 Doppelpass show on Sunday and said that he will have a chat with Haaland in the coming days. He added that there is no ultimatum or deadline for the Norwegian international to decide his future, but the Black and Yellows need clarity at some point so they can plan for the summer transfer window accordingly.
"“I was a bit surprised by his comments. In the next few days, I’ll talk to him about what’s on his mind right now and why, after a 5-1 win, he came up with this topic and spoke so strongly about pressure.”“There is no ultimatum, there is no deadline. We’re not putting him under pressure to make a decision in the next few weeks. But because he is so important to us, there has to be planning security for us at a certain point. How am I supposed to push ahead with my squad planning, how can we replace an Erling Haaland, if we don’t get a sense of whether the player still wants to stay at Borussia Dortmund or not?”"
Speculation about Haaland’s future has dominated headlines in recent months, with Real Madrid leading the race for his signature. The likes of FC Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are also interested in signing the 21 year old.
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Haaland, who has scored 78 goals in 77 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, still has two and a half years left on his contract. The BVB bosses have made it clear that they want the striker to stay on for another season, and they are even said to be willing to double his salary. But the final decision rests in Haaland’s hands.