Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has said it is highly unlikely that Erling Haaland will leave the Bundesliga club at the end of the season.

The likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid have all been linked with bids for the Norwegian international by Watzke believes the player needs to stay at Signal Iduna Park for longer in order to gain more experience:

“I don’t think that will happen. Erling and his advisor Mino Raiola know what they have in us. I can only advise him to do things like Robert Lewandowski.” Haaland gave himself the time to mature into an absolute world-class player in Dortmund. You won’t be able to do that in a year. Because it is clear that if Erling should leave us at some point, then he will only go to an even bigger club, and so many are not considered. If you join a club like – just for an example – Real Madrid, you have to be world-class.”

Whether Dortmund will stick to their guns if a large enough offer comes in for Haaland in the summer, we shall have to wait and see. Any bid for the 20-year-old would likely have to exceed £100m in order to secure the forward’s signature.

Reports have suggested that Haaland may have a release clause worth €75m (£67.5m), which comes into effect at the end of the 2021/22 season, but those claims have been disputed.

Whatever the case, there is likely to be a battle for the Norwegian in the not too distant future, with the striker having already scored 33 goals in 33 appearances during his brief time at Dortmund.