Manchester United’s newly appointed interim coach Ralf Rangnick has set his sights on Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland.
According to popular SportBild journalist Christian Falk, Manchester United are set to enter the market for Erling Haaland. The Premier League giants are expected to target an ambitious move for the Borussia Dortmund forward in the near future, largely thanks to the incoming interim head coach Ralf Rangnick.
The former Schalke head coach had played a key role in helping RB Salzburg bring Haaland from Molde back in January 2019. He was the Red Bull project’s head at the time. He also holds a good relationship with the player’s father, Alf-Inge Haaland, who plays a critical role in his son’s footballing decisions.
As such, Manchester United believe they have a shot at snapping up the Norwegian international, who is seemingly becoming one of the best strikers in Europe. He has already broken many records since his move to the Bundesliga in January 2020, with the forward notably scoring 71 goals in just 70 competitive matches for Dortmund.
Standing at 1.94m, Haaland has mesmerised the onlookers with his pace and physicality, making life difficult for defenders across Germany. But it appears the 21-year-old could soon be on his way out of Dortmund, especially after the club’s unexpected elimination from the UEFA Champions League group stages this season.
It essentially means Haaland will have to play in the UEFA Europa League during the second half of the campaign. It could serve as a massive boost for interested parties like Manchester United, who are likely considering the Norwegian as a long-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. They are also preparing for life without Edinson Cavani as well, with the Uruguayan being recently linked with a move to Barcelona.
Manchester United haven’t enjoyed much success in domestic or European competitions in the past four years. But they will give Haaland the opportunity to play alongside Ronaldo while reuniting with his former Dortmund teammate Jadon Sancho.
That said, the Red Devils are set to face stiff competition from their cross-town rivals Manchester City. The Citizens can offer far better sporting prospects for Haaland while also making him the focal point of the attack, with a supply line consisting of the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva, among many others.
Hence, it will be interesting to see how this transfer saga takes shape in the coming months. Haaland’s current contract at Dortmund expires in 2024, so the Bundesliga giants are certain to demand a hefty fee for the young forward next summer, especially if they can get rid of the reported release clause.
