MANCHESTER UNITED are confident of agreeing a £76million deal to sign Erling Braut Haaland next month – before loaning him back to RB Salzburg until the end of the season.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made the 19-year-old prodigy his top target and is desperate to beat off competition from across Europe for the striker’s services.
Man Utd are confident of signing Erling Haaland for £76m in January – but he will be loaned back to RB Salzburg for remainder of seasonCredit: EPA
SunSport understands the player is close to agreeing a switch to Old Trafford, on the basis Salzburg get to keep him for the remainder of the season.
Solskjaer had wanted to bring in the forward, who has scored 24 goals in 22 appearances this season, in January to boost the club’s battle for a top-four finish.
But Salzburg are insisting they will only do a deal if they are able to keep the brilliant teenager for the remainder of the campaign.
Haaland himself is keen on making the move to Old Trafford, but would be happy with the arrangement to be loaned back to his current club until May.
And while United would prefer to have him available straight away, such is their desire to snap up one of Europe’s best young players, they are thought to be coming round to the idea of accepting Salzburg’s terms.
German club RB Leipzig have an arrangement with sister club Salzburg where they can buy him for just £20m, and they have confirmed they have made their move to take up that option.
But that would depend on the player agreeing to the move to the Bundesliga instead of any other of the major clubs around Europe who are chasing his signature, which he happily inked on to a United shirt.
And linking up with compatriot Solskjaer at United is an opportunity believed to interest him most.
That would allow Salzburg to shun the clause with RB Leipzig which would then see them get maximum money for their best player.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk