Borussia Dortmund chief vows to play hardball over £150m Chelsea target Erling Haaland

The Norwegian striker has been heavily linked with the Blues this summer after another exquisite season, in which he scored 41 goals in as many games.

And former BVB captain Kehl, who is set to take over from Michael Zorc as chief executive next year, played down the prospect of the 21-year-old leaving.

He told Bild: 'I still see Erling as extremely committed.

'He exudes an incredible amount of energy and is really up for the season at BVB.

'Erling won his first title with Borussia Dortmund a few weeks ago. I believe that this also inspires and spurs him on.

'He sees what is possible, and he often asks me when we're going to play with fans again.

'Celebrating this triumph without them, that worried him. He would like to see this interaction between fans and players again in the coming season.

 

'For me he is an absolute winner. He wants to be a champion - and I firmly believe he can get even better.'

Quizzed whether he will still be at the club after August 31, Kehl, 41, simply said: 'Yes.'

And asked to elaborate, he continued: 'In the conversations with Mino Raiola about the (Donyell) Malen transfer, I did not have the feeling that we would have to meet again soon about Erling.

'And we have already emphasised 1000 times that we do not want to give him up.'

 

Dortmund played hardball with Manchester United over Jadon Sancho a year ago, with the England winger staying to help Dortmund achieve a top four finish and lift the German Cup before eventually leaving this summer in a £73m switch.

It comes after Haaland quashed talk of a move to Chelsea this summer, insisting he is happy in Germany with three years remaining on his deal.

The Blues' interest in Haaland dates back to as early as March, when Sportsmail reported they were one of three teams - alongside Real Madrid and Manchester City - interested in signing the forward.

Haaland, who is currently in the midst of a training camp in Switzerland in preparation for the 2021/22 campaign, has revealed contact with his agent Mino Raiola has been minimal, however.

 

'Before yesterday I haven't spoken with my agent for one month,' Haaland told Sportbild when discussing the links to Chelsea.

'So you have the answer. I hope it's only rumors because it's a lot of money for a person.'

The forward is under contract until 2024 and insisted he remains happy to stay with Dortmund, particularly after winning his first piece of silverware with the club last season as they claimed the DFB-Pokal.

'I have three years left on my contract,' he said. 'I'm enjoying my time here.

'But of course the trophy was important because that's what I want.