Manchester United have four players making Erling Haaland transfer pursuit easier

Man Utd: Solskjaer reacts to Haaland breaking record

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Manchester United’s top transfer target is Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is eager to land his compatriot at the end of the campaign, particularly given the struggles of Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood this term. And that pair, as well as Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire, are making a decision easier to make.

Manchester United would have signed Haaland in January 2020 had all gone to plan.

Both Solskjaer and Ed Woodward jetted out to Austria for talks with the striker, who was at Red Bull Salzburg at the time.

They left the country believing United would land the Norway international but, after Mino Raiola got involved, everything changed.

United missed out, being forced to settle for Bruno Fernandes instead. Not a bad alternative.

But Solskjaer’s desire to land Haaland remains strong.

The 48-year-old has regularly talked up his compatriot, admitting the pair remain in touch having previously worked together at Molde in Norway.

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And United’s desire to sign the Dortmund striker is being made easier by four of their current players.

The struggles of Martial and Greenwood, who have scored just five Premier League goals this season, mean Haaland is the priority at the current moment in time.

Martial bagged 23 goals across all competitions last term but has regressed and, after nearly six years at Old Trafford, remains infuriatingly inconsistent.

Greenwood is one for the future. Of that there’s no denying.

But the United youngster remains too raw and inexperienced to lead the line on a weekly basis, blowing hot and cold ever since being punished by England boss Gareth Southgate earlier in the campaign.

United’s best sides have always had a deadly No 9.

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Sir Alex Ferguson had the likes of Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Robin van Persie throughout his successful spell at the Old Trafford dugout.

And Solskjaer knows he needs a prolific marksman if he’s to have any chance of beating Manchester City to the Premier League title next time out.

Then there’s Lindelof and Maguire, too.

United have changed their mind on their priority target just about every week since the turn of the year, lurching from Haaland to a new centre-back instead.

But Lindelof and Maguire have improved considerably of late, helping the club keep more clean sheets and making them far more solid defensively as a result.

United admire Jules Kounde and Raphael Varane, of Sevilla and Real Madrid respectively.

But Lindelof and Maguire’s better performances are proving a point that a new defender, necessarily, shouldn’t be their No 1 goal for the summer transfer window.

Instead, it’s becoming clear they require Haaland.

Yet signing the 20-year-old definitely won’t be easy, not while half of Europe’s elite are coveting his signature.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is among the Dortmund star’s admirers and the German wants Roman Abramovich to sign the Dortmund star amid Olivier Giroud, Tammy Abraham and Timo Werner’s struggles for consistency.

Real Madrid have Haaland in their sights if they fail to sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain.

Manchester City are keeping tabs on the Dortmund star as they look for Sergio Aguero replacements, with the Argentina international set to become a free agent.

And Barcelona could make a move if Lionel Messi quits the Nou Camp.

United, however, need Haaland more.

And whether they’re successful in finally signing Solskjaer’s top transfer target remains to be seen.

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