Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has urged the Reds to sign compatriot and Borussia Dortmund hitman Erling Haaland next year.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with Goal.com, former Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise has implored the Merseyside giants to go after Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland in 2022.
Haaland is one of the most in-demand strikers on the planet currently after his exploits with Molde, RB Salzburg and now Dortmund. Having signed for the German giants in January last year, the 21-year-old has plundered 68 goals in just 67 goals, putting himself on the radars of several top clubs across Europe.
Liverpool are one of the clubs that have been linked with a move for the 21-year-old Norwegian international. And Riise has gone on to claim that Haaland would be a perfect fit for Jurgen Klopp’s side and has urged the Reds to go after him next year.
“Obviously I would love to have him at Liverpool, because he’s an unbelievable player,” Riise said. “He’s in great form, and I think he would suit [Jurgen] Klopp’s style of football. I also think he would love Liverpool as a club. I don’t know if Liverpool have the chance to sign him, but if they do then please do, because that would be unbelievable for the club – or for any club that signs him!”
Speaking further, Riise added that if Liverpool’s title rivals Manchester City, who have also been linked with Haaland, were to sign him, they would become near-unbeatable. “But if City got him, wow! You talk about unbeatable teams, then that would be close! Whoever gets Haaland, whether it’s next season or whatever, is going to be an unbelievably strong team for many years to come,” he said.
Haaland has a release clause embedded in his contract that gets activated next year. Believed to be somewhere in the range of €75-€100 million, the sum should not be a stumbling block for the big Premier League clubs, including Liverpool. But there is plenty of interest in the 21-year-old from La Liga as well, with Barcelona and Real Madrid also keen.
Riise, however, hopes to see his compatriot play in the Premier League in the future. “I hope Haaland comes to the Premier League. I hope he comes to Liverpool, obviously, but for Norwegian football it is important to get a player like that in the Premier League,” he added.
