Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that he is still in contact with Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian international worked under Solskjaer when he was coming through the youth ranks at Molde, but the United boss says he won’t be drawn on whether he’ll look to sign the 20-year-old in the summer:
“You know I can’t speak about Erling, he’s with Borussia Dortmund, it’s disrespectful to talk about it apart from that I know him and I speak to him. Who wasn’t interested in him a year ago? Everyone would say you take the best players in the world. Erling is a top player.”
Unsurprisingly, fans on Twitter are calling on Solskjaer to use his close connections with the player to beat the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City to his signature:
Put him on speed dial and sign him in the summer.
— Ami96A ?? (@Amirul96Mm) February 24, 2021
Agent ole
— utd… . .. ..-. (@utd97103734) February 24, 2021
— Gaviscon Don (@lyallbutler) February 24, 2021
Keep in touch huh??
— Wazza. (@RealDevil_MG) February 24, 2021
Bring him home, not all these you’re saying…. talk to him
— ????? (@TiamiyuI) February 24, 2021
"Keep in Touch" pic.twitter.com/qidCOD5067
— ?™️ (@EvkProductions) February 24, 2021
wish we could get him, but I fear with other "big clubs" in the mix, we won't stand a chance, we are so bad at transfers,, with Super Ed in charge, giving 5year deals to no hpoers like Jones & Rojo, not to mention half £m a week in wages to TWO goalkeepers
— John Ettery (@johnnyett) February 24, 2021
It must be pointed out that United did miss out on Haaland when he moved from Red Bull Salzburg to Haaland just over a year ago so Solskjaer’s personal link with the forward isn’t likely to prove decisive.
The major difficulties will be both Dortmund’s price tag, which is likely to be in excess of £100m, and the contract demands made by his agent Mino Raiola.