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Oliver Kahn opens up on Bayern Munich's failed Erling Braut Haaland pursuit

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 10 May 2023

Kahn opens up on Bayern's failed Haaland pursuit

Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn says that his club "tried everything" to sign Erling Braut Haaland from Borussia Dortmund last summer.

Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn has revealed that his club "tried everything" to sign Erling Braut Haaland from Borussia Dortmund but were not prepared to pay the salary that he was demanding.

The Norway international represented Dortmund between 2020 and 2020, scoring 86 goals and registering 23 assists in 89 appearances for the German club in all competitions.

A number of the biggest clubs in world football were linked with Haaland when it became clear that he would be leaving BVB, but Manchester City won the race for his signature.

The 22-year-old is having a remarkable first season at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 51 goals and registering eight assists in 47 appearances in all competitions.

Kahn has revealed that his side were keen on Haaland last summer but were not willing to break their wage structure in order to bring the Norwegian to the club.

Manchester City's Erling Braut Haaland celebrates scoring their second goal on May 3, 2023 © Reuters

"We tried everything for Erling Haaland one year ago and went to our financial limits," Kahn told Bild. "We had to decide: do we want to break our wage structure? We weren't ready for that. That's not Bayern-like."

Haaland is believed to collect in the region of £375,000 a week at Man City, but there have been claims that he could be in line for a new-and-improved contract.

Kahn has confirmed that Bayern are in the market for a new striker this summer, having not signed a replacement for Robert Lewandowski when the Poland international left for Barcelona last year.

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani have been linked with moves to Munich in recent months.

Harry Kane celebrates scoring for Tottenham Hotspur on May 6, 2023 © Reuters

"No comment on Harry Kane. I won't say anything on players who're not our players. Kolo Muani? Same. I don't want to talk about players of other clubs. But we're assessing the striker market," the CEO added.

Napoli's Victor Osimhen has also been linked with a move to Bayern, but Kahn has suggested that his club are not prepared to meet the asking price for the Nigerian.

Bayern have won their last two Bundesliga matches against Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen to sit top of the table, one point clear of second-placed Dortmund.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is Bayern's leading goalscorer this season with 17, while Jamal Musiala (15), Serge Gnabry (14), Leroy Sane (14) and Sadio Mane (12) have also netted double figures for the club in 2022-23.