Manchester City could be facing the unthinkable: a potential Premier League relegation if the ongoing 114-charge saga ends in the punishment some have speculated about. And if that happens, Chelsea could have quite the shopping list.
Despite their public declarations of love for City, plenty of top-level players might suddenly fancy a new chapter rather than swapping the Premier League for the Championship or below. Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Gianluigi Donnarumma could all find themselves weighing up their options.
We might even see Enzo Fernandez rediscover his love for Madrid. Funny how quickly these lifelong dreams can resurface when relegation enters the conversation.
We’ve looked at the benefits, and lack of them, the players and how Chelsea’s history in that era could be different. So, why not look at what could happen if some of their stars decide to leave?
That player is Erling Haaland. The Norwegian may want to stay in the Premier League to break goalscoring records, so why not explore his options? And if Chelsea happen to be on that list, well, who am I to argue? Stamford Bridge is practically calling his name.
Chelsea
It all becomes even more interesting when you remember Chelsea reportedly had a £70 million bid rejected by Borussia Dortmund, only for Haaland to join Manchester City for around £20 million less. Funny how that worked out, isn't it?
Now, Chelsea could have another chance to land their man, potentially through a loan deal with an option to buy. They have the financial muscle, the squad and the ambition to make a move happen. So, could Haaland finally swap sky blue for royal blue in the coming months? Stranger things have happened!
Arsenal
Arsenal have been among City's closest rivals in recent years, and Haaland's battles with Gabriel Magalhães have often spilled beyond the pitch, adding a personal edge to the rivalry. Signing the Norwegian would give Arsenal a huge boost, filling a key gap in their attack while handing him plenty of opportunities to add to his goal tally.
Of course, there is a certain irony in Haaland potentially ending up at Arsenal after telling Mikel Arteta to “stay humble”. Those words could come back to haunt him in a big way!
Mancheter United
A move to Manchester United seems unlikely, despite their need for a top-level striker. Haaland has tormented United with hat-tricks in the past and scored at Old Trafford recently, so any lingering pain from those performances would probably be the least of his concerns.
The real stumbling block is the rivalry itself, particularly the long-running Roy Keane connection after his infamous tackle on Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge. That history makes a move across Manchester feel like a non-starter.
Liverpool
Liverpool could offer Haaland the chance to remain at the top end of the Premier League while joining another club with serious title ambitions. There probably isn’t enough bad blood between the two clubs for him to rule Liverpool out, but leaving City for one of their biggest rivals could seriously damage his relationship with the fans.
Tottenham
Tottenham have the money, but there is a chance they could be joining City in the Championship anyway. That would be quite the plot twist for the Premier League.
The striker role would certainly suit Haaland, but Chelsea could offer a more lucrative, safer and arguably more attractive option if he is looking for a new home.
Leeds United
This would be the fairytale option, with Haaland born in Leeds and having supported the club growing up. A return to his roots would be a romantic story, although convincing one of the world's most prolific strikers to trade title challenges for no Champions League and mid-table would be a tough sell.
Plus, there’s always the issue of money. A one-year loan deal is possible if options dry up.
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