Leeds born Norwegian striker Erling Braut Haaland has taken the football world by storm this season. The forward currently plies his trade in the Austrian Bundesliga for RB Salzburg, and he already has 22 goals and six assists in 16 appearances to his name in all competitions this season.
Phil Hay on Haaland rumours
Given that he is a Leeds born striker and has connections in England, some rumours had emerged that Leeds United could be in the market for Haaland. However, Phil Hay of the Athletic gave a reality check recently. He indicated that the Whites were always going to find it hard to lure a talent like Haaland. The journalist in a Q and A session recently wrote-
”The way he’s going with his goalscoring, someone is going to pay very big money for him. The Leeds link is very obvious but money talks. Leeds did try to get him before he took the Red Bull offer. They couldn’t match it.”
The revelation that Leeds did try to sign him earlier is a new one, and it would be disappointing for the fans to see the club miss out on him. The Whites are ironically struggling to score goals freely this season. Haaland has incidentally got more goals to his name so far than the Whites have in the Championship.
The chance to play European football would have also been a significant factor which would have influenced the forward’s decision to snub Leeds United’s advances. Salzburg have been playing in the Europa League for some time, but this season they managed to make it to the Champions League as well.
Haaland stands in at 6′3, but he is relatively quick for a man of his stature. He can score all kinds of goal, and has been compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic due to his playing style. Hay’s update about United trying to sign him earlier will be heartbreaking for the Whites’ faithful. It seems like another one of the stories of what could have been.
Any hopes of Leeds United signing him?
If the Whites can get promoted to the Premier League this season, then they might stand a chance to acquire his signature. However, the way Haaland’s form is going, Phil Hay has already indicated that someone will pay the big bucks for him soon. The striker has been linked with clubs like Manchester United so even getting to the Premier League might not be enough for the Yorkshire outfit.
Haaland would have been an inspired signing for the club if they decided to pay a large sum for him. However, the Championship side are walking a tightrope in terms of financial fair play regulations and offering huge wages to Haaland would have put the club under more pressure.
