Varun Pai
Manchester United suffer huge blow in pursuit of Erling Haaland
According to Ok Diario (h/t The Express), Barcelona are plotting to sign Erling Haaland this summer amidst links with Manchester United, with deadline day fast approaching.
The Red Devils, who already have a number of forwards in the form of Edinson Cavani, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and Daniel James, added to their frontline this season by signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
However, in a bid to buy an out-and-out centre-forward, the Old Trafford outfit have been keen on signing Sancho’s ex-Dortmund teammate, Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has scored 62 goals in 61 appearances for the German outfit since he arrived at the club in January 2020 from RB Salzburg.
To that end, a lot of clubs have been interested in securing the player’s services in the recent past, including Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid.
However, Dortmund’s £150million valuation of the player has put off plenty of suitors as the German outfit are keen on keeping the 20-year-old at the club.
But Barcelona are now trying to gain a foothold in the race to sign the Dortmund forward this summer by using their president Joan Laporta’s relationship with Haaland’s agent, Mino Raiola. The Spanish outfit will try to construct a five-year deal for the Norwegian with the first two seasons on a ‘reduced salary’, according to Ok Diario (h/t The Express).
More Manchester United News
- Basel and Crystal Palace lead the race for Manchester United starlet Amad Diallo
- Manchester United dealt huge blow as Atletico Madrid reveal stance on Kieran Trippier
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants Manchester United to hand new contracts to five players
This would be a blow for United, who were planning on signing the forward for a reduced fee next summer. According to a clause in the striker’s contract, he could be available for as little as £70million next year, and the Red Devils were apparently planning on using this to their benefit.
While the Catalonia outfit are yet to sign the player, it would be a loss for United if he does end up at Camp Nou because he has shown what a player he can be at the young age of just 21.
