Manchester United desperate to sign Champions League hat-trick scorer

Manchester United look absolutely desperate to sign Norwegian wonderkid Erling Haaland in the upcoming winter transfer window as per reports in England. The Red Devils are even ready to send him back to Red Bull Salzburg on loan for the remainder of the season. 

According to reports, the Red Devils want to get the transfer over the line in January to ward off interest from the likes of Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Juventus. The 19-year-old wonder-kid has been in a sensational run of form this season having scored 26 goals in 18 appearances this season including seven to his name in four Champions League games.  

Haaland's excellent run of form has alerted some of the biggest clubs in Europe but Manchester United are his long-term suitors and are preparing an offer Red Bull Salzburg will be happier to accept. They are willing to let the youngster stay in Austria for the rest of this season and join them in the summer. 

Given how much Manchester United have struggled this season up front, their willingness to wait for Haaland for another six months after signing him is really surprising. The young striker has multiple hat-tricks this season, including one in the Champions League. 

The 19-year-old is currently on international duty with Norway, who play Malta on Monday and are still in the running to qualify for Euro 2020. Spain have already qualified from Group F and even though Norway are fourth in the standings, they are tied on points with third-placed Romania and just four behind second-placed Sweden. 

Haaland is a fresh face in the Norwegian international setup. He has only represented his country twice so far and is yet to open his account for them. However, he is a generational talent and Norway will have big hopes from him in the future.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær is a big fan of the youngster who is the son of his former international teammate Alf-Inge Håland. The latter also played in the Premier League with Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City. The current United managed the youngster at Molde.

Haaland has been compared to former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimović due to his physique and style of play. He is really big and strong but despite that, he is agile and good with the ball at his feet. The 19-year-old also dominates in the air. 

Solskjaer does not want the Red Devils to pay more than £85million for the former Molde striker but is confident he would fit in perfectly at the club as he looks to continue his youth revolution. 

Solskjaer is unlucky that Haaland signed for Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg just three months before he took over at Old Trafford having been Molde boss when the Norwegian club agreed the deal to sell him. But, he hopes that his good relationship with the player can help him to sign the coveted wonderkid.

Featured image credit- Fox Sports Asia