Manchester United are reportedly set to prioritise a summer move for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland this summer.
According to a report by Manchester Evening News, Erling Haaland is being viewed as a priority target for Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window. The 20-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker has been identified as a long-term replacement for Romelu Lukaku that the Red Devils never signed in 2019.
Haaland has had the world at his feet since bursting onto the scene at Red Bull Salzburg. And, since the move to Borussia Dortmund in January 2020, his star has only been soaring further. His tally for the Bundesliga heavyweights is simply astonishing, with the Norwegian prodigy scoring 47 goals and providing 11 assists in 48 appearances till date.
Suffice to say, the who’s who of European football are after him ahead of the summer transfer window, with Haaland easily the hottest property in the market. One such club chasing his signature are Manchester United, who appear destined to enter the market for a striker following the end of the season.
Edinson Cavani has proven to be a smart acquisition for Manchester United, with the Uruguayan striker chipping in with some very important goals this season. In addition, it appears as if Mason Greenwood could be starting to realise his potential as a centre-forward to some extent, if recent performances are anything to go by.
Having said that, Anthony Martial has struggled to no end so far in the ongoing campaign and there are question marks arising over his future at Old Trafford. In addition, Cavani’s Manchester United future appears to be bleak as well, owing to concerns over his fitness as well as some personal reasons, whereas Greenwood will need some fine tuning before he becomes the first-choice striker.
With that in mind, a potential pursuit of Haaland does make sense, considering Greenwood can compete with the Norwegian for the first-choice striker’s berth while also being an option out wide. The report adds that Manchester United do not see their chase for Harry Kane come to fruition. As a result, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and football director John Murtough have identified Haaland as the summer priority.
In fact, Manchester United view Haaland as the ideal long-term replacement for Romelu Lukaku, who was not replaced with a striker in the summer of 2019. United, though, will have to stave off competition from Manchester City, who have been heavily linked with the Dortmund striker, while also agreeing to meet his £350,000-a-week wage demands to land him.
It is suggested that Manchester United’s uneasy relationship with Mino Raiola will not dampen their pursuit of Haaland, owing to Solskjaer’s personal relationship with the youngster. And, there could be further encouragement to snap up Haaland if Dortmund fail to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. It, thus, remains to be seen if United do manage to sign the 20-year-old come summer.