Erling Haaland / signs for Dortmund

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It would show how far we've fallen if we fail to sign Haaland. De Ligt is understandable because we were competing with Barca and Juve. But we losing out to Dortmund or Leipzig for a player we need is ridiculous. It's actually surprising and fortunate for us that we're the only tier 1 team going after this guy

Nar, it's absolutely the opposite. If he chooses Dortmund or Leipzig over United and Juve, it's because he still sees us a top club and feels it's too earlier in his career for the move.
 
I agree with this, there will be another offensive talent that no one is talking about now available nxt summer. And the Caf will be all over that player.
Tbf, the last big money transfers of young European talent in Mbappe, (Barca) Dembele and Joao Felix has resulted in one generational success, one disaster and one who the judges are very much out on as of now. (not looking good).
All went for over 100m. All were proven in a much bigger league than Haaland.
When I started to write in this thread I tried to make the argument that as much of his potential, he is not ready for United yet (Haaland) and even if he is; he will limit Greenwoods minutes.
Our investments in players are better spent elsewhere nxt window: Like midfield, midfield and midfield. And hopefully Sancho. There will be a new young "world beater #9" on the market in a year or two. Its not just what we need to add to the squad now. Its no criticism of Haaland.
Exciting and promising player.
Mbappe he is not. Or even Dembele or Joao Felix. And I am talking potential here, not what type of players they are.
And if you mean that Haaland should jump on the opportunity now to come to United because he might flop in Germany its a flawed argument on its own merits. If you wont make it at Leipzig or Dortmund you should not come to United to begin with.

Good post Johan. As I say above, I don't think it'd be a bad idea to sign up and immediately loan him to Dortmund if that's what he wants.
 
Hope I dont end up broken hearted like with De Ligt and Bruno Fernandes in the summer.

There was hardly even a vaguely solid Twitter link between United and De Ligt all summer. Never understand why so many got their hopes up
 
There was hardly even a vaguely solid Twitter link between United and De Ligt all summer. Never understand why so many got their hopes up
Cuase we're young and full of hope and stupidness, I knew the De Ligt one was very unlikely but the Fernandes one was talked so much even by "reliable" sources like Di Marzio and Romano that I thought it was a done deal.
 
At least with Bruno it was obvious all summer it was utter shite and we were never signing him, I have no idea how anyone got sucked into that, and I'm a huge muppet!
what? reliable sourcess like Di Marzo and Romano said it was a done deal, if any the De Ligt one was the full of shit one, Bruno Fernandes seemed like a closed deal.
 
I find this whole thing that Haaland needs to go step by step progression up clubs doesn't suit him.

This isn't rating his ability but more the way he plays football - he seems like a striker with a good combination of different abilities at a young age looking like a 'complete striker'. Again this isn't his ability to say that he is Lewandowski level but more that he has strength, he has positioning, he has ability in the air, has the ability to interlink play well for the type of striker he is, has power and more things.

I don't really see what he gets from going to Germany apart from a different environment. Is it the pressure? There is hardly any pressure at United any more - its not necessarily a place where he has to come perform whilst everyone else is performing is it?

He has the tools to be good at Germany but he has the tools to be good at England too & this taking time by a slow step by step approach can sometimes do just that - slow the whole thing down.
 
Think in a few years Minimino will end up being regarded as the superior signing and further highlight why Pool are where they are and we are where we are
 
I mean, we literally have Marcus Rashford tearing up the Premier League right now, Mason Greenwood is breaking through, Scott McTominay is having a breakout season, Paul Pogba came from the academy, Tuanzebe, Williams.

Man, nearly half our first team are academy graduates.

It was literally with Ole that all this had happene
I mean, we literally have Marcus Rashford tearing up the Premier League right now, Mason Greenwood is breaking through, Scott McTominay is having a breakout season, Paul Pogba came from the academy, Tuanzebe, Williams.

Man, nearly half our first team are academy graduates.

We have Ole to thank for this. James and Bissaka to have shown that young players can succeed again under United. Which is why convincing Haaland to sign for us instead of Dortmund or Leipzig should be easy.
 
Weird way to look at it considering playing time seems to be the main factor in his choice. He looks like someone more likely to want to join a tier 2 club, play regularly, develop further and then move on to a top club. Raiola prefers to move his players around regularly so I'd imagine that's the progression he has in mind too.

So where exactly do we fall in then for the hottest prospects. De Ligt didn't want to come to us because we were competiting with Barca and Juve who as of right now are more desirable for us. Ornstein did report that we made a bid for De Ligt

Now we're competiting with Leipzig and Dortmund for another hot prospect and if we miss out it's because he want to develop in Germany.

So where exactly do we fall in for young prospects. If they won't come to us because we're not as desirable anymore and they won't come to us because they are better off developing elsewhere. When do we now expect any of these young talents of high calibre to want to sign for us.

Also if Haaland does go to Germany and does well, by the time he's done developing all the top clubs will be after him. We're really lucky to be competiting with just Dortmund and Leipzig (Juve clearly the last in the race) but the idea that a youngster would choose Dortmund or Leipzig over Manchester United would indeed show how far we've fallen when it comes to signing the best young prospects. Can't sign them because we're not desirable right now. Can't sign them because there are better places to develop.

Anyways this is just an assumption. He might have already chosen us and I could just be wasting my time writing this
 
Even when Utd was arguably "the best club in the world" they still had a challenge to get the very best foreign youngsters in, especially if Real and Barca were in the chase. I don't think it's the prestige of the club or anything like that though, I'd say it's more down to lifestyle. Some players will always prefer the latin/med countries given the choice. Some may have grown up watching the German Bundesliga and have a softspot for those places.

Utd are still a massive club, some of the younger up and coming players will understand that too. I guess it comes down to how much they back themselves. Are they good enough to be a part of the puzzle that can make Utd a great team again? If I was a young player I'd be looking at this as an opportunity to really make my mark on the game. I've said it before....the players who turn this Utd team around and make the club a true world power in football again, will become legends who will deserve statues outside the ground!
 
Our biggest issue is putting balls into the box, who will assist Haaland? He looks a good prospect but surely a creative midfielder is priority.
 
Think in a few years Minimino will end up being regarded as the superior signing and further highlight why Pool are where they are and we are where we are
A mini me version of Mino Raiola?

Ah yes the guy who couldn't compete against a 35 year old Michael Owen. I'm sure he sees a kindred spirit in Martial. Silky smooth on the ball but seriously can't be arsed to work for it.
:lol: nice one
 
So where exactly do we fall in then for the hottest prospects. De Ligt didn't want to come to us because we were competiting with Barca and Juve who as of right now are more desirable for us. Ornstein did report that we made a bid for De Ligt

Now we're competiting with Leipzig and Dortmund for another hot prospect and if we miss out it's because he want to develop in Germany.

So where exactly do we fall in for young prospects. If they won't come to us because we're not as desirable anymore and they won't come to us because they are better off developing elsewhere. When do we now expect any of these young talents of high calibre to want to sign for us.

Also if Haaland does go to Germany and does well, by the time he's done developing all the top clubs will be after him. We're really lucky to be competiting with just Dortmund and Leipzig (Juve clearly the last in the race) but the idea that a youngster would choose Dortmund or Leipzig over Manchester United would indeed show how far we've fallen when it comes to signing the best young prospects. Can't sign them because we're not desirable right now. Can't sign them because there are better places to develop.

Anyways this is just an assumption. He might have already chosen us and I could just be wasting my time writing this

I don’t remember he ever did. The only reason why De Ligt to United was crazy because the ITK thing and social media liking pictures and following players. All tier 1 journalists stayed silent.
 
Our biggest issue is putting balls into the box, who will assist Haaland? He looks a good prospect but surely a creative midfielder is priority.

We had 24 shots and 8 on target against Everton. How do you explain that?
 
The state of this thread...
'He wont be first choice here. If he chooses a club like the other Leipzig or even Dortmund its a perfectably understandable choice. Raiola is already on record pushing for this, which would of course nicely set him up for another big transfer in two years if Haaland continues to improve. But he is not wrong here, its the correct choice for the player.
Posters here trying to make that such a choice is equivalent of United losing status are incorrect. If anything it means the opposite. United is still too big a club for an unproven (in a serious European league) 19-year old to expect to be first choice #9. Which its why its completely understandable if he looks for a bridge transfer first.

The state of backtracking we have here.

80m for a player who's not guaranteed a spot?
 
The state of this thread...
'He wont be first choice here. If he chooses a club like the other Leipzig or even Dortmund its a perfectably understandable choice. Raiola is already on record pushing for this, which would of course nicely set him up for another big transfer in two years if Haaland continues to improve. But he is not wrong here, its the correct choice for the player.
Posters here trying to make that such a choice is equivalent of United losing status are incorrect. If anything it means the opposite. United is still too big a club for an unproven (in a serious European league) 19-year old to expect to be first choice #9. Which its why its completely understandable if he looks for a bridge transfer first.
Daniel James says hi.
 
Our biggest issue is putting balls into the box, who will assist Haaland? He looks a good prospect but surely a creative midfielder is priority.
When the opponent is closed down, our forwards have no space to run into and They will struggle to get into the box with the ball. We can try :
  1. Go wide, win corners and score from headers but We have no threat in the air
  2. Play a forward with different play style than the rest to help diversify our attacking patterns but We have no one like that. Our forwards are similar to each other, They're quick but struggling to lead the line alone, rarely win 50-50 duels and aren't very clinical. They can also be fouled easily
The reason why Ibra did so well for his age here was because He's exactly a CF that solved point 1) and 2). If you defend deep, He scores from header or from distance, if you mark him He wins duels and hold the ball well while freeing up the other forwards. I don't know if people noticed this but when Ibra was here (his 1st season), We scored quite a lot of goals that seemed like a routine (a.k.a not that impressive - shots near the keeper, headers) but none of our current forwards is capable of doing it when the opponent is playing deep. We lack that goal scoring instinct.

I think Haaland will help with those. Don't get me wrong, a creative AM is top priority I agree but as long as our forward line is so predictable, at some point the AM will struggle to create anything too (See Pogba for example). We need both and Halaand is too good of an opportunity to pass up.
 
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German football expert Honigstein thinks Borussia Dortmund are at the head of the queue to sign Haaland, saying they have a vacancy in attack that no other club can offer the Norway international.
 
You cna't make this up,

Now united is too big of a jump for halaand? The mind boggling backtracking now that he doesnt seems to fancy us

In Norway this is the general line being spouted by a lot of the “experts” (Bergdølmo, Jan Åge, Moa and Stamsø). They all want him to go to Dortmund as he will develop under a lot less pressure. John Arne Riise and Petter Myhre wants him to go straight to the Premier League. Riise thinks 2 years in Bundes is to wasted years (gotta love the scouse bastard).

Anyway there is a lot of opinions on this. And many, at least here in Norway, thinks he should develop further in Bundes before he goes to the Premier.

So this has zero with backtracking to do, it’s just one of the aspects of the saga really.

Edit: There is nothing from Haalands camp regarding this. So there really is no change. Being a Norwegian, signing for Manchester United is as huge as it gets. He will play for us come January imo.
 
So where exactly do we fall in then for the hottest prospects. De Ligt didn't want to come to us because we were competiting with Barca and Juve who as of right now are more desirable for us. Ornstein did report that we made a bid for De Ligt

Now we're competiting with Leipzig and Dortmund for another hot prospect and if we miss out it's because he want to develop in Germany.

Even if we miss Haaland, this won't be the first time or the last time where we missed great player and also very good young players.

When we won CL, we missed Ramsey as he thought he will get more game time at Arsenal. Same with Bale and Spurs.
When we were winning league so easily, we missed players like Shearer, Batistuta, Ronaldinho, Hazard for various seasons.

It will always be the case for every club except Madrid and Barca, who get most players they try to sign.
 
I find this whole thing that Haaland needs to go step by step progression up clubs doesn't suit him.

This isn't rating his ability but more the way he plays football - he seems like a striker with a good combination of different abilities at a young age looking like a 'complete striker'. Again this isn't his ability to say that he is Lewandowski level but more that he has strength, he has positioning, he has ability in the air, has the ability to interlink play well for the type of striker he is, has power and more things.

I don't really see what he gets from going to Germany apart from a different environment. Is it the pressure? There is hardly any pressure at United any more - its not necessarily a place where he has to come perform whilst everyone else is performing is it?

He has the tools to be good at Germany but he has the tools to be good at England too & this taking time by a slow step by step approach can sometimes do just that - slow the whole thing down.

Agree with all of this except the bolded bit. If he has the confidence (and it looks like it) and the skill there's no reason why he can not step up. I know it's going back a bit, but Vidic came straight from Russia, Ronaldo from Portugal and RvN from Holland none of them needed an intermediate league to make the grade.

As for no pressure, United is still a huge club on the world stage regardless of where you are in the league. Look how Rashford wilted under the pressure earlier this season when he was leading the line. The pressure to succeed at Utd is as massive as ever.

Dortmund have no incentive to blood a youngster that they only have on loan and aren't gonna profit from

Except he could score a shed load of goals for them and they need a striker, I imagine they'd play him as a starter if he was doing well enough.
 
We are still a very attractive club of course and one of the first addresses for top players.
The „we are not playing CL“ argument is not really material as joining United means being constantly in the spotlight anyway.

I have not followed the Story over the last couple days so what is the actually mentioned going rate for the lad?
 
Has anyone actually watched him play football? He has no clue how to trap a ball most of the time. He just kicks it into open space and hopes for the best.

However his character and determination is worth 20million on its own.

This kind of post will be ignored or the apparent weakness will be downplayed. The best thing to do would be finding a way to fit him and Martial in the same team if he is struggling with the things Martial excels at. Maybe use him like Salah and Mane at Liverpool.
 
When Man Utd make you an offer, it should be 'where do i sign' not 'let me consider Dortmund and Red Bull'.
 
Back then we had a reputation of building young players to be the best. Now we've gained a reputation of even destroying players careers. How many players have we developed since Ferguson left? If this was 10 years ago in what world would a player of Haaland's caliber choose any Tier 2 team over Manchester United for their development

Eh? Sorry? Am I living in an alternate universe here. United have a reputation for developing the highest number of successful players in English football playing top flight football. They don't all go on to make it at United. That said are you living under a rock at the moment? The team just reached its landmark 4000+ consecutive match day squads of home grown talent and this year's average first choice 11 age is just over 20.

Bizarre statement.

Think in a few years Minimino will end up being regarded as the superior signing and further highlight why Pool are where they are and we are where we are

I'm interested to know why you both think this? Any reason? Or is it just because one has gone to Liverpool and you want to be negative about United.
 
I find this whole thing that Haaland needs to go step by step progression up clubs doesn't suit him.

This isn't rating his ability but more the way he plays football - he seems like a striker with a good combination of different abilities at a young age looking like a 'complete striker'. Again this isn't his ability to say that he is Lewandowski level but more that he has strength, he has positioning, he has ability in the air, has the ability to interlink play well for the type of striker he is, has power and more things.

I don't really see what he gets from going to Germany apart from a different environment. Is it the pressure? There is hardly any pressure at United any more - its not necessarily a place where he has to come perform whilst everyone else is performing is it?

He has the tools to be good at Germany but he has the tools to be good at England too & this taking time by a slow step by step approach can sometimes do just that - slow the whole thing down.

I guess his worry is that he wont get enough playtime to get used to the faster and more intense Premier League matches. Say all you will, but he’s 19 - and it is a huge step to go from Austria to EPL.
Bundesliga - not so much. He also wont get the constant overwatch from twitter/internet fans who could slate him if he doesnt score in his three first matches.

Not to mention BVB almost have a striker slot open for him already, unlike us.
In my eyes it is far more logical for him to go there. If Ole wasnt our manager he wouldnt even be considering EPL, but that works both ways - he cant come here just because if him.

His team just dont want him to flop in his next club, and it is a bigger chance for that in EPL, because the quality of the teams he will face is much higher.
 
At the same time that’s still a gamble. What happens if he flops in Germany then no top European club will come in for him in the supposed “2-3 years time”. Also you never know, there might be another young talent or two that emerges that is better than Haaland and all the clubs that were supposedly predicted to come in for Haaland in “2-3 years time” divert their attention elsewhere.

The opportunity to sign for Manchester United doesn’t come around that often.
You’re debating with a guy who hates Norwegians. He’s biased against Haaland
 
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