Borussia Dortmund have reportedly identified Stuttgart forward Sasa Kalajdzic as an ideal replacement for Erling Braut Haaland.
Haaland would be available for a relatively modest figure of £68m in 2022 due to his release clause, but there is a growing expectation that he will depart the Westfalenstadion for a fee in excess of £100m this summer.
With the likes of Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea supposedly ready to engage in a bidding war, Dortmund have accepted that they are unlikely keep hold of Haaland for the 2021-22 campaign, and Edin Terzic's side are believed to have lined up an ideal replacement.
According to The Independent, Kalajdzic is on Dortmund's radar after a prolific debut campaign in the Bundesliga, but Stuttgart can afford to play hardball over a fee as they are aware of Dortmund's situation with Haaland.
However, the report adds that West Ham United and RB Leipzig could do battle with the Black and Yellow for the Austria international, although Dortmund are currently the frontrunners for his signature.
Kalajdzic is contracted to Stuttgart until 2023, and he has amassed 13 goals from 26 Bundesliga games in the 2020-21 season.
Ben Knapton
