Erling Haaland’s wage demands could be a stumbling block for Bayern Munich

While Erling Haaland has never outwardly voiced a desire to transfer away from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich, there has been an understanding among Bayern’s front office that the Norwegian would be a more than ideal successor to Robert Lewandowski.

Haaland is 12 years younger than Lewandowski, has already mapped an incredible trajectory to one of Europe’s most sought after strikers, and is one of the most promising young talents in the world. Lewandowski’s current contract at Bayern is set to expire in the summer of 2023, though he still could sign an extension. Still, it is paramount for Bayern to line up his long-term replacement and Haaland would fit the billing perfectly — there could be significant roadblocks, however.

Per the latest edition of Sport Bild (via @iMiaSanMia on Twitter), Bayern is chalking up their hopes of one day acquiring Haaland from Dortmund as fleeting at best. Even if the striker has aspirations of one day succeeding Lewandowski, Bayern might not be ready and willing to pay his wages on top of what would presumably be a substantial transfer fee. Haaland is represented by Mino Raiola, who drives a notoriously hard bargain for his clients and has a track record of getting the most out of any deal that he possibly can.

Bayern is, unsurprisingly, not the only club interested in Haaland. The Bavarians have kept close tabs on him for most of his career in the Bundesliga, but there are other suitors abroad, particularly in the more financially lucrative Premier League in England. Chelsea FC, Manchester United, and Manchester City have all expressed interest at one point or another in the Norwegian starlet and all three clubs are far more prepared than Bayern to spend a considerable amount of money on him. City signed Jack Grealish from Aston Villa this summer for €117 million while United brought in Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), and Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) for a combined total of €130 million. They are all prepared to spend serious cash.

Per Sport Bild, Raiola would be demanding Haaland be paid a yearly salary of €50m, which is an astronomical fee that would completely tear apart the wage structure at Bayern. In 2021, only Lewandowski made more than €20 million and Manuel Neuer and Leroy Sane were right behind him at €18 million and €17 million. €50 million, even for a player like Haaland, would not be realistically feasible if Bayern wants to keep structural integrity with their wage distributions.

Even Karl-Heinz Rummenigge expressed his severe doubt that Haaland will stay in the Bundesliga, let alone transfer to Bayern at some point in the future. The numbers touted from Raiola and his camp make it far too unrealistic in Rummenigge’s eyes. “I’m afraid he won’t be staying in the Bundesliga. The numbers that are circulating show that it’s difficult to keep him in Germany. I assume that his future lies abroad,” Bayern’s former CEO explained.