Solskjaer makes dash to Austria to secure €20m signing

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer TEAMtalk

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is understood to have flown to Salzburg on Friday to try and persuade his fellow countryman Erling Braut Haaland to sign for Manchester United.

Norwegian paper VG and the Daily Mail report that Solskjaer got an early flight to Austria to try and convince the 19-year-old Red Bull Salzburg striker, who played under Solskjaer at Molde, to come to the Premier League.

Solskjaer was forced into the intervention after it emerged that Haaland had met with representatives of Borussia Dortmund and Red Bull Leipzig in recent days.

The United boss only made a day trip to speak to Haaland and his associates before returning on Friday night ahead of United’s Sunday clash with Everton,

German newspaper Ruhr Nachrichten claimed Haaland was in Dortmund on Wednesday for talks over a prospective January move to the Westfallonstadion, with the Bundesliga giants move than willing to meet the reported €20m (£17m) exit clause that exists in his contract.

Haaland is also understood to have spoken to Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann, which left Solskjaer needing to speak to the player, who has scored 28 goals in 22 games for Salzburg this season.

 

 

The player’s father Alf-Inge Haaland, said last night: “I hope you understand that I cannot comment on all the rumours that are going on at the moment.”

The Mail claim United’s number one target is a striker this January and Haaland is their preferred signing.

After Thursday’s win over AZ Alkmaar, Solskjaer said: “Targets that we’re looking at, they’re long-term targets.

“If there’s something popping up that might be as a short-term, maybe. But we’re always thinking long term. January is always a difficult one. We’re always on the lookout.”

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