Chelsea ‘agree personal terms’ with Erling Haaland in big step towards £150m transfer

Chelsea have reportedly moved a step closer to sensationally signing Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland by agreeing personal terms with the Norwegian forward.

However, the Champions League winners are still struggling to agree a fee with the Bundesliga side having had their latest advances, which included a player exchange, knocked back.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is actively searching for a striker to complete his attack ahead of a Premier League title push.

Tuchel saw his side frequently misfire after he replaced Frank Lampard in January.

Chelsea went on an incredible run under the German but shared the goals around the squad.

Midfielder Jorginho finished as the club’s top scorer in the top-flight despite remarkably scoring all seven of his goals from the penalty spot.

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The Blues value Abraham at around £40m, meaning that the transfer bid was the equivalent of around £100m.

However, it is believed that Dortmund want closer to £150m for the 20-year-old, who scored 26 goals in 27 league appearances last term, and would prefer straight cash.

Boss Tuchel has said that his side are a few signings away from challenging at the top of the division.

“Two or three [signings] could be very, very good. It’s a constant thing to never deny change,” Tuchel said last month.

“That you always bring new energy, new guys who question the old beliefs, who challenge everybody in the training and in matches, so I think it’s a good thing.

“We don’t need another seven and another complete turnover because it’s also our job to keep on improving, because we have still a young squad and it’s not about stealing from them the chance to prove it again, that they are capable of growing and evolving.

“But we have some ideas, of course, to make the group stronger, and I think this can always be a positive thing to challenge all of us.”

Meanwhile, it has been announced that Chelsea will begin their 2021-22 Premier League title charge at home to Crystal Palace.

In the top-flight fixture lists revealed this morning, Tuchel’s side then play Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City among their next five matches.

They will end the campaign against newly promoted Watford at Stamford Bridge.