Manchester United could be preparing to sign Borussia Dortmund attacker Erling Haaland in a player-plus-cash deal.
So, what's the story here?
The Red Devils had been linked with a bid for the immensely talented 21-year-old in the past, but their interest seemed to wane as they focused on signing Jadon Sancho, a former teammate of Haaland's.
United no longer has the money to pursue the Norway international this summer after completing the £73 million signings of the Englishman and are considering inventive ways to bring him to Old Trafford, according to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo.
According to the source, one option being investigated by United's management is to include Anthony Martial in the sale in order to lower Dortmund's asking price.
However, the German side has already stated to Chelsea that they will not accept any players in exchange for Haaland, thus United may need to look for alternative options.
DON'T MISS:
Consider him and Jadon Sancho together.
Since debuting to Signal Iduna Park in January 2020, Haaland has established himself as one of football's brightest young stars, scoring 57 goals in 59 games for BVB.
His excellent performances have drawn the attention of Europe's biggest teams and earned him acclaim from a number of people, including former Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who remarked on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football (via Daily Mail): "He doesn't care about anything other than the goal."
“Other players will play on the wing, but he wants to stay in the net frame. He knows he's lethal between the two posts. By the way, he's quite powerful. He simply wants to close the gap, and the manner in which he does it is absurd. The potential he possesses: he has a strong belief in himself, which I admire.”
In the current window, any possible suitor is likely to pay approximately £150 million for the Norway international, who is under contract with Dortmund until 2024.
Having said that, there is expected to be a bidding war for his talents in a year's time when a £68 million release clause kicks in, making Haaland available at a bargain price.
The low price will almost certainly trigger a bidding war for the Scandinavian beast next summer, so departing CEO Ed Woodward must act quickly to get the clinical goalscorer before it becomes operational.
DON'T MISS:
Reuniting Haaland and Sancho at Old Trafford would give United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a forward line capable of competing with any in the world, and would undoubtedly help the club win big trophies once more.
It's unclear whether Dortmund would be intrigued by the potential of acquiring Martial in part-exchange, but the France international is a top-class player on his day and a proven Premier League striker, so his participation could persuade Dortmund to make a deal.
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