Alexander Sorloth is set to complete his move from Crystal Palace to RB Leipzig, according to Matt Woosman of The Athletic. The German club are expected to complete the £22 million transfer in the coming days.
The Norwegian international has swapped the benches of Crystal Palace for the Champions League. With Leipzig losing Timo Werner to Chelsea and the end of Patrik Schick’s loan this summer, the club are in need of a forward.
Sorloth, who spent last season on-loan with Turkish side Trabzonspor, netted 33 goals in 49 in all competitions last term. The 24-year-old was supposed to have returned to Trabzonspor this season, but with Palace ready to sell, proceeds are expected to be split equally between the two clubs.
RB Leipzig Looking to Finalise Deal with Crystal Palace Forward Alexander Sorloth
How Alexander Sorloth Will Fit in at Leipzig
It remains unclear how Leipzig intend to use Alexander Sorloth in the 2020/21 campaign. The German club also have Yussuf Poulsen, who they use as a target man, and whether they can integrate them both into the side remains to be seen.
His ability to score goals and his Norwegian heritage is drawing comparisons with Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haland. However, the Bundesliga is a major step up from the Turkish top tier and it will take some getting used to.
Complicated Transfer With Three Sides Involved
Ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, Crystal Palace allowed Sorloth to join Trabzonspor on a two-season loan. In the summer of 2021, the Turkish side would have had the option to buy the Norwegian forward. However, his performances and goal record for Trabzonspor last season attracted a number of clubs.
Palace and Trabzonspor have now mutually agreed to cancel the loan. It now means that if Leipzig do sign Sorloth, Palace will have to share the fee with the Turkish club.
Spurs Set to Miss Out on Another Striker
Tottenham were interested in bringing Sorloth to North London. However, it seems like another striker has escaped their clutches.
Finding a striker has been a difficult pursuit for Spurs. The fact that Harry Kane is so dominant means that a forward coming in, will need to work incredibly hard to get a chance there.
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