Borussia Dortmund ace Erling Haaland has snubbed Manchester United over fears they can’t match his ambitions
According to ESPN (h/t Daily Mail), Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland has snubbed a move to Manchester United in the summer transfer window as he fears that the English club cannot ‘match his ambitions’ – potentially regarding winning major trophies in the near future.
Haaland has been a revelation for Dortmund ever since moving to the side in 2020 from RB Salzburg, where he has gone on to become a goal threat for the German side. He has regularly netted for the club in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League, which has increased the attention and hype around the player.
United are in desperate need of a forward like the Norwegian in their ranks next term, given how poor their current crop of attackers has been this season. Despite boasting names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, and Marcus Rashford in the team, goals have dried up since the turn of the new year.
This lack of goals has also affected the Old Trafford side’s position in the Premier League table, with the club sitting in seventh place. As things stand, they are in danger of missing out on a top-four place by the summer in order to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Concerns over trophy drought
United have been in contact with the 21-year-old’s camp, informing them that the club are willing to match any financial package put on the table by any other interested party – city-rivals Manchester City are said to be one of the favourites to land Haaland in the upcoming transfer window. However, the Norway international is said to prioritise the quality of the ‘sporting project‘, with his eventual transfer decision not based on financial benefit.
Despite a keen interest in Haaland, the player’s representatives have informed United that due to the English side’s recent trophy drought, he would turn down a move to the red half of Manchester as he feels they ‘cannot match his ambitions‘. In a bigger blow to the Red Devils, the striker is said to be keen to continue his development under Pep Guardiola, as he feels his game would go to new levels under the City boss.
Although a brutal remark made to United by Haaland’s team, you cannot shake off the feeling that there is some truth to it. We have now gone five years without winning any silverware, which is a terrible stat for a club of our stature to have to live with.
There may be big names in our attacking ranks, but none of them has proven to be consistent or reliable in recent times. To win trophies, a top-quality forward is needed that can fire us to glory with goals, and Haaland was an ideal candidate to fill this void of ours. However, given the recent communication with the English giants, that dream looks far-fetched.
More Manchester United News
- Transfer News: Manchester United working on a deal to sign Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips
- Manchester United ready to break transfer record to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice in the summer
- Interim manager Ralf Rangnick promotes Manchester United academy starlet Alejandro Garnacho to first-team training
However, it is claimed that Haaland gave his response before the Red Devils came close to hiring Ajax Amsterdam boss Erik ten Hag as their new permanent manager, so it remains to be seen whether the chance of playing under the new boss will change his mind regarding a potential move.
If this is true, then our new potential new head coach will surely be an instant fan favourite at Old Trafford if his mere presence in the dugout can influence one of the most highly-sought after strikers to go back on his word. But then again, it is hard to see how ten Hag would guarantee trophies because his success in Holland doesn’t mean he will necessarily do the same here.
