According to a recent report from the Express, Manchester United have been linked with a shock move for Borussia Dortmund’s striker Erling Haaland. The Leeds born striker made his switch to Dortmund in January, and he has continued his blistering form for the German heavyweights after impressing at RB Salzburg.
Manchester United were linked heavily with Haaland in January, but the 19-year-old went on to join Dortmund. United meanwhile had to be satisfied by bringing in Odion Ighalo in the last few hours of the transfer window. However, if the latest reports are to be believed, then Haaland is once again on United’s radar.
The Norwegian striker was in an unbelievable form for RB Salzburg in the first half of the season. There were some question marks regarding whether he would be able to replicate his performances in a tougher league. The answer is there for everyone to see as Haaland has bagged 11 goals and one assist in 7 appearances for Dortmund. Those are out of the world numbers!
Forward options at Manchester United
Manchester United would undoubtedly be ruing the missed opportunity in January as Haaland seems like a real deal after he impressed in the big clash against Paris Saint-Germain. United allowing the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku to leave in the summer meant that the onus of leading the line came upon the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Rashford impressed, but he is now sidelined with a significant injury. Martial has done well in patches, but he still does not look good enough to carry the goal-scoring burden of a team of Manchester United’s calibre.
Ighalo seems to be a short term makeshift fix. United should be on the lookout for a new striker in the summer. However, it would be really shocking if they get Haaland after missing out on him in January.
Why a move for Haaland in the summer looks unrealistic?
Family friend and former Norway striker Jan Age Fjortoft had indicated (TalkSport) that Haaland has a release clause in his contract of €75m. However, that won’t be applicable in his first year. So it would be interesting to see whether the latest reports regarding United trying to sign him in the summer holds any truth or not.
Given the way he has settled in at Dortmund, it would be foolish of him to leave in the summer. At Dortmund, he is challenging for the title and is playing in the Champions League. There is no guarantee that United would qualify for Champions League next season and that would certainly go against them. The club can offer truckloads of money, but Haaland to United in the summer certainly looks unrealistic. The Red Devils should have gone all out for him when they had their chance in January.
