Manchester United’s rejected bid for Erling Haaland as ‘swap deal considered’

Man Utd: What could tempt Haaland to Old Trafford?

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Manchester United were recently linked with Erling Haaland again. Mundo Deportivo say the Norway international was being eyed by the Red Devils, who were considering using Anthony Martial in a swap deal. So, with that the case, it’s time to look at their rejected bid for the player.

If Manchester United were to use Martial in a swap deal to sign Haaland, Borussia Dortmund would likely turn it down.

And the Red Devils have already had one bid for the player rejected.

This came in January 2020, with United trying to sign the striker when he was strutting his stuff for Red Bull Salzburg.

Bild claimed a month later that the Red Devils had offered a massive package to try and sign the hitman, believing he’d drastically improve Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team.

It was said they were willing to pay £52million for Haaland, with £12m of that activating the player’s release clause at the time.

The rest was in order to convince both player and club to accept the proposal.

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But while United hatched that plan, it proved to be in vain with Haaland choosing to move to Borussia Dortmund instead.

Since then, the 21-year-old has gone from strength to strength – enhancing his reputation as one of the best strikers in the planet in the process.

And United, after missing out, then decided to sign two players instead.

The first was Bruno Fernandes, with the Portugal international joining from Sporting Lisbon for an initial £47m.

And the second was Odion Ighalo, who arrived from Shanghai Shenhua – scoring four goals before eventually returning to the club.

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As things stand, United don’t appear to be frontrunners in the race for Haaland. Instead, it’s Chelsea who are in the pushing hardest to snap him up.

The Blues have already lost Olivier Giroud, selling the France international to AC Milan.

Tammy Abraham could also depart, with the England international on the radars of Arsenal and West Ham.

And both Thomas Tuchel and Roman Abramovich are sold on the signing of Haaland as they look to build a dynasty at Stamford Bridge over the coming years.

Chelsea are willing to offer £150million in order to sign the 21-year-old, who they think can lead their attack for the next decade.

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And whether they’re successful remains to be seen.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano thinks it will be ‘really difficult’ for Chelsea to sign Haaland this summer.

“I think this deal will be really difficult this summer – that is my feeling,” he said on Twitch.

“On Haaland if he stays at Dortmund, it’s true they’ll lose a lot of money [due to his release clause in 2022], but football is not just about balances and money – it’s also about winning titles.

“It’s also about details that are important for balance.

“People ask me why it makes sense for Dortmund to lose him in a year for €75million and not sell him now for €125m, €130m. I think it’s because of their desire to win something with Erling Haaland this season.

“But also remember the Champions League. They get a lot of money from the Champions League.

“If they lose that spot and if you sell Erling Haaland, that’ll be a big problem. That’s why they want to keep Erling Haaland.”

Haaland himself recently insisted he was focused on the current season with Dortmund.

“I don’t really have much to say about this,” Haaland said. “I have three years left on my contract and I’m enjoying my time here (at Dortmund).

“Before yesterday, I didn’t speak to my agent in one month – I think you have the answer there.

“I don’t really care too much about that. It’s a lot of money – I hope it’s just rumours to be honest because that’s a lot of money for a person!”

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