Manchester United are reportedly open to sending Erling Haaland back on loan to Red Bull Salzburg if they can sign the striker in the January transfer window.
Haaland has been in fantastic form for Red Bull Salzburg this season and as a result has some of the biggest clubs across Europe, including United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, are after him.
However, according to the Mirror, United hope they can secure a deal in the January window by offering Salzburg the option to have Haaland back on loan for the remainder of this season.
The Austrian club would ideally not want to lose the player halfway through the season but United’s plan could help them get ahead of their competitors and secure Haaland’s signature before an expected summer exit.
Either way Salzburg are preparing to make an enormous profit on the 19-year-old they, who they only signed themselves at the beginning of the year, as they have set an taking price of €100million (£85m) for the striker.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in the market for another forward in the January window, after deciding to sell Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan, but it appears he is willing to wait until the summer if he can sign a player of Haaland’s pedigree.
The young Norwegian has scored five hat-tricks so far this season and he has found the back the net 26 times in just 18 appearances.
Another factor in United’s favour could be that Solskjaer has already worked with his compatriot, albeit briefly while he was manager a Molde.
Haaland, who is the son of former Leeds United and Manchester City player Alf-Inge Haaland, began his career at Norwegian side Bryne.
He then moved to Molde in 2017 while Solskjaer was manager of the club, during which he scored 20 goals in 50 appearances.
Haaland then secured a move to Salzburg in January of this year where he has gone on to be one of the most sought after strikers in European football.
However, Haaland has been warned off from Alf Ingve Berntsen from making a move to a big club as this point in his career.
Berntsen, who worked with the young striker at Bryne, told Goal and Spox: “Erling is a dominant character, sitting on the bench would not be easy for him.
“What many forget: Haaland was not even a regular player at Salzburg recently.
“He did not play regularly until August this year.
“Of course he caused hype with his goals, but it would probably be advisable to stay at Salzburg for another year.
“The most important thing for Erling is to play regularly at the highest possible level. It would be bad for him not to play at his new club.
“He needs playing time at the highest level in order to evolve. To be a substitute at a top club would be a hindrance to this development.”