Leipzig supremo reveals there is more interest in Man Utd target Haaland than documented

Erling Haaland TEAMtalk

Red Bull Leipzig supremo Oliver Mintzlaff says Erling Haaland has told them he will change clubs by the summer and revealed there is more interest in the player than has been documented.

A spell-binding 28 goals and seven assists in 22 matches for Red Bull Salzburg this season, has seen the 19-year-old Norway star linked with plenty of Europe’s big guns.

Manchester United, Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund have all held talks with the striker with Leipzig’s connections with Haaland’s club Red Bull Salzburg rumoured to have put the German side in pole position for the player.

However, that has been dismissed by the Bundesliga club’s managing director, Mintzlaff, who has also revealed their is more than just those clubs documented that are chasing the player.

“It’s the same cliché again: we can buy everything and we can get everything and we can do everything. Unfortunately, we can’t, otherwise Haaland would already be with us,” he told Sport1.

“Yes, we met with him. We are interested in the player – great interest. He listened to it, logically, and is very open to a move. He would like to change [clubs] in summer at the latest.

“It is not easy. There’s Manchester United, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund. There are a few other clubs as well.”

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed his interest in the player, who looks destined to leave Austria, at lest by next summer.

Mintzlaff did not reveal Haaland’s asking price, but stated Leipzig can manage to meet the fee needed to sign him, although the unseen extras might push him out of their reach.

 

 

“…of course, our club also has certain guard rails and limits. And I have named the clubs that compete, and there may be salary regions that we don’t want to go into. [The transfer fee] is still manageable, but the package does not only consist of the transfer fee,” he added.

Last week The Sun claimed United were facing a £12million agent fee to complete the signing of Haaland.

Haaland is reported to have a €20m (£17m) exit clause in his contract, but the prolific striker’s price tag is much higher than that with his agent Mino Raiola looking for a January auction.

Raiola, who also represents Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku, is not one of United’s favourite people and add into the mix that he is demanding a huge agent fee to get the Norwegian to Old Trafford, then the deal looks increasingly more complex.

 

 

The Sun “understands a figure of £12m has been quoted by Raiola” in a deal which would see Haaland loaned back to Salzburg for the remainder of the season.

Asked if he was hopeful of adding new signings next month, the Solskajer said on Friday: “Yeah, as a manager you always hope that you can do something but then again it’s not something that’s nailed on.

“It has to be the right player. Right age, gonna fit into this squad and for the right value. We’re always looking and the transfer window is open but it might not happen.”