According to the latest reports from the Mirror, Manchester United have moved into pole position to sign Norwegian sensation Erling Braut Haaland. Serie A outfit Napoli have moved out of the race to sign the attacker.
The 19-year-old has caught the eye of some of the major clubs because of his goal-scoring exploits in the Austrian Bundesliga with RB Salzburg. Napoli were supposed to make an approach for him in January, but they have accepted that they will lose out on him as Manchester United seem likely to get his signature.
The striker already has 21 goals to his name in all competitions this season including 6 in the Champions League. There will be question marks over him if he arrives at Manchester United as he hasn’t played in Europe’s top 5 leagues before. However, we think that he can be a handy addition to United once he settles in and gets accustomed to the pace of the Premier League.
Why Manchester United need strikers?
Ole Gunnar Solskjær went on to sell the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku in the summer window without really bringing a replacement for them. That has already cost the Red Devils in the first few months of the season as after injury to Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford struggled to lead the line for the Mancunians. United quite clearly need some firepower upfront as they have struggled to score from open-play and against teams who sit deep and defend in numbers.
Why can Haaland be a good bet?
The 19-year-old scores all kinds of goal and he is a classical forward. Haaland stands at 6′3, but he is no slouch on the pitch as he can surprise the defenders with his quick burst of speed. He also has the tendency to be in the right place at the right time, and he just seems to be a natural finisher in front of goal.
His hold up play is also worth mentioning, and he should be able to cope with the physicality of the Premier League. The striker has been compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic by some as Haaland considers the Sweden legend to be his idol.
Manchester United might have to be patient with him initially, but there are enough signs to indicate that the Leeds born striker can thrive in one of the top leagues in the world. His performances in the Champions League has shown that he isn’t overawed by the occasion and at just 19, he has vast room for improvements. Manchester United are considered to be the favourites to get him, and that should be positive news for the team management.
