Chelsea’s pursuit of Erling Haaland halted following sanctions imposed on Roman Abramovic

Chelsea are frustrated because the restrictions imposed on Roman Abramovich have put a halt to their chase of Erling Haaland.

According to ESPN (h/t Daily mail), Chelsea have been left frustrated as their pursuit of Erling Haaland has hit a roadblock following the sanctions imposed on Roman Abramovich. Europe’s most in-demand striker was on the club’s target list as they attempt to replace Romelu Lukaku.

The Blues have been barred from signing players under the special licence that now allows them to play games after a Russian oligarch was sanctioned for his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin following the country’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

These sanctions have caused havoc for the west Londoners, and it could prove disastrous if not addressed immediately. Given the competition from other European powers involved in the summer transfer window, they may miss out on deals for top players.

Since joining the Bundesliga team in January 2020, Haaland has scored 85 goals in 87 games in all competitions, becoming one of Europe’s most in-demand strikers.

Chelsea’s withdrawal from the race gives the Citizens an advantage.

Chelsea’s absence from the race will make it simpler for Manchester City to sign the £64 million striker. Losing out on such a player that too to a direct rival is certainly a frustrating outcome.

Haaland has transformed himself into a player that every European club desires, and his efforts and performances for Borussia Dortmund attest to that. If everything goes according to plan, the 21-year-old may become the highest-paid player in the Premier League if he joins City this summer on a five-year deal.

Thomas Tuchel viewed Haaland as a likely replacement for Lukaku, who has struggled for form in his second tenure with the Blues. The manager will now be forced to explore alternative options after missing out on the chance to sign the Dortmund star.

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Although a consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Todd Boehly is the preferred bidder, the club’s present ownership predicament continues to drag. Raine Group, Chelsea, and the UK government are still in talks about the deal.

It’s frustrating for us to see the European Champions struggle as the club’s sale is delayed. As things stand, the clubs’ hands are tied and they cannot make any headway in reinforcing the squad. We must back Tuchel and the management team as they work behind the scenes to improve the club once the UK Government’s restrictions are relaxed.