LIVERPOOL have been urged to rival Manchester City in the race to land Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland.
Former Anfield star Glen Johnson claimed the Norwegian is the ‘perfect’ transfer for his old club this summer.
Chelsea are also keen on Haaland along with the striker’s former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.
But local rivals City are thought to be leading the race after offering the 20-year-old the chance to play for the same club as his father Alf Inge.
However, former England international Johnson has claimed Liverpool will need a big-name signing like Haaland to challenge again next season.
In an interview with bettingexpert.com, he said: “Haaland is a perfect asset for any top team at the moment. He’s big, strong and a proper goalscorer.
“He’s very young so whoever buys him next could have the opportunity to sell him for an awful lot of money in five years time so, business-wise, it could be good to look at someone like that.
“Premier League clubs will want him because it will be a case of not wanting to miss out.
“If City go for him, Liverpool will think ‘we can’t let City have him’. And it could become a race to the line. I think there will be numerous clubs that will want him if they can afford him.
“Liverpool don’t buy people for the sake of it, they don’t spend over the top on just any player.
BET OF THE DAY: GET THE BEST FOOTBALL PRICES ON THE MARKET WITH OUR EXPERT ADVICE
“They only do it when they feel like they’re getting it right and they’ve proven before that it works – they spent big money on Alisson and Van Dijk and they’re the two best players in those positions in the world. I think they will spend if the right player comes up.
“Someone like Haaland, I think they will spend big money on him.”
Johnson also assessed the transfer situation at one of his other former clubs Chelsea and revealed they need to sign David Alaba.
The Austrian defender, 28, is out of contract at Bayern Munich in the summer and looks set to leave for nothing.
Real Madrid look set to secure his services after Chelsea pulled out of the race due to Alaba’s £400,000-a-week wage demands.
But Johnson added: “Chelsea would need Alaba the most.
“If they’re going to play with wing-backs he would be the ideal man because he’s an unbelievably good athlete and could play on the left of a back three or as a left wing-back.”
