Haaland: Juventus, Manchester United join Real Madrid in chase
Real Madrid's interest in the Norwegian sensation is already public while Serie A and the Premier League have also been keeping an eye on the Salzburg striker.
Erling Braut Haaland has taken to the Champions like a fish to water, nicking records from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi while helping himself to seven goals in just four games while also netting 12 for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga and four in the ÖFB Cup to take his tally to 23 in 17 game in all competitions.
But it is his exploits in Europe that have caught the eye of Europe’s big spenders, a hat-trick against Genk being backed up by one against European champions Liverpool and three in two fixtures against Carlo Ancelotti’s pre-meltdown Napoli.
Salzburg bought the striker from Molde for just five million euros last January in what may go down in history as one of the finest pieces of business ever pulled off in the winter market. Real Madrid have already expressed an interest in the 19-year-old but will face a bidding war for his services with Juventus and Manchester United now entering the race.
Haaland in demand in Manchester and Turin
According to reports in Italy, Juve sent the head of their scouting department, Matteo Tognozzi, to run the rule over Haaland in the San Paolo while Manchester United are naturally interested in the prolific teenager, who made his professional debut under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Molde and would provide a goal threat that has been absent Romelu Lukaku departed for Inter Milan.
Barcelona and Arsenal have also been credited with an interest and it remains to be seen who will blink first. Salzburg are unlikely to welcome any January callers if a first-ever foray into the Champions League knock-out stages is achieved – they sit third in Group E with two games to play, against Genk and a Liverpool side that will in all likelihood have qualified by the time they visit Wals-Siezenheim. Domestic hegemony has long been established and even if Salzburg drop into the Europa League they will feel with Haaland in their ranks they have a genuine chance of winning it.
However, in the current market the Austrian club will be acutely aware that they can name their price for Haaland and there are clubs willing to pay. Solskjaer is planning a splash to try and lend Manchester United some spark and Juventus have been an eyeing a young striker to eventually succeed Ronaldo in Turin.