Are Man Utd the only 'serious bidders' for Haaland?

Robin Bairner

• 16 Dec 2021 10:04 GMT
• 2 min read

Manchester United are the only “serious bidders” presently in touch with Borussia Dortmund attacker Erling Haaland, according to a report in Germany.

That does not mean, however, that Ralf Rangnick’s side are about to be given a free path to the Norway international.

Available for a fee in the region of €80 million at the end of the season, Haaland promises to be one of the bargains of the summer transfer window because of quality, potential and young age.

The suggestion, then, that clubs around the world are sleeping on the prolific 21-year-old is not accurate. Perhaps they have not made concrete interest yet, and therefore Bild’s report is accurate, but it will come.

The incredible tussle over Haaland

Indeed, the messages that continue to emerge over Haaland’s future remain distinctly mixed.

Agent Mino Raiola suggested four clubs that Haaland could move to next summer, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City but notably missing out Man Utd. It would have been a rare slip from the representative if this was done by accident.

Indeed, he then swiftly backtracked on these claims and indicated the young forward could join up with any of Europe’s top 15 sides.

Meanwhile, clubs who have ruled themselves out of signing Haaland, such as Bayern Munich, continue to be associated with a move for him.

Given the wages that Haaland can demand, there are likely only a handful of clubs who will be able to afford him. Furthermore, others, such as Liverpool, would have to shatter their wage structure in order to capture the superstar, risking schisms throughout their squad.

Man Utd, Man City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are the four teams who meet all the criteria for signing Haaland – and all four are liable to be interested when it comes time for a deal to be struck.

There has even been a suggestion that the striker could remain at Dortmund and develop for a further year, with the player said to be focused on his game and not the money he might be able to recoup.

Either way, the competition for Haaland will be intense come the summer – and Manchester United certainly cannot expect to have it all their own way when it comes to making a move.