Former Liverpool full-back John Arne Riise says a lack of Champions League football could scupper the Reds’ chance of signing Erling Haaland.

The Borussia Dortmund forward is being targeted by a host of clubs, including Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid, and Riise can’t see his fellow Norwegian making the switch to Anfield if rivals can offer the chance of winning Europe’s top prize:

“Obviously, I would love Liverpool to sign Haaland, but he needs to be in the Champions League. He needs to be up against the best players and fighting for titles. It would be crazy if Haaland went to Liverpool. They would have an incredible front three or four, but I don’t know if it can happen.”

“I think Haaland is going to move at the end of this season because he wants to be at a club that fights for titles and especially the big one, the Champions League Any team wanting to challenge for titles, if they get Haaland they will have a much bigger chance. He is that good.”

The prospects of Liverpool qualifying for the Champions League are now looking quite remote. Chelsea’s win over Everton last night means Jurgen Klopp’s side are now seven points off the top four with ten games to go.

Haaland’s asking price would also be problematic. The 20-year-old’s €75m release clause only comes into effect in 2022 so Dortmund are expected to demand north of £100m for the striker this summer.

As Riise says, it would be an “incredible” deal if the Reds were to pull it off but, realistically, there is little chance of it happening.