Frank Lampard, during his tenure as Chelsea manager in 2019, has revealed the extent of his pursuit of Manchester City’s current star, Erling Haaland.
Lampard’s desire to sign the Norwegian striker was sparked after facing him in a pre-season friendly. Although Lampard advised Chelsea to pursue a deal for Haaland, his recruitment pleas were unsuccessful, and the young superstar eventually found himself shining for City.
Looking ahead, Lampard, now back at Stamford Bridge as interim boss, is preparing to face Haaland when Chelsea visits Manchester City.
Haaland’s remarkable performances this season have been nothing short of sensational, with a record-breaking 52 goals to his name.
However, had Lampard’s wish to bring Haaland to Chelsea been granted while he was still playing for Red Bull Salzburg, the powerful frontman could have been a Blue.
Reflecting on his failed attempts to secure Haaland’s signature, Lampard acknowledged the player’s exceptional talent, stating:
“He’s a player I tried to bring to Chelsea, his level at that point was very clear. Credit to him, I love seeing players at that level with the hunger to be the best. From our point, I was pushing it, I’m not sure what the appetite was elsewhere”.
“The competition was big, I think there was a buyout clause that was relatively reasonable maybe considering the player. I don’t know the details. I don’t know if he would have decided to come anyway but I was a big fan. I was pushing big, he was the outstanding one.”
Despite Lampard’s efforts, he is unsure of the level of interest from other parties and the details surrounding any potential buyout clause that may have existed. Nevertheless, Lampard remained a big fan of Haaland, emphasizing his standout qualities.
Lampard, who played alongside formidable forwards like Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, refrained from drawing direct comparisons between Haaland and past iconic figures.
While acknowledging their greatness, Lampard noted that Haaland’s impact has been more immediate, whereas players like Drogba had a lasting influence over an extended period.
Looking at the bigger picture, Haaland has broken the Premier League’s single-season goal record, currently standing at an impressive 36 goals and counting.
His contributions have played a significant role in keeping Manchester City in contention for a historic treble.
In contrast, Lampard finds himself back at Chelsea after a disappointing campaign that has left the team languishing in the bottom half of the table, despite significant investments in new players.
As the story unfolds, Haaland continues to dazzle on the pitch, while Lampard strives to revive Chelsea’s fortunes in his return to the club.