Erling Haaland

[BarstoolProphet]

Surprised to see so many posters mentioning Chelsea.

When was the last time Chelsea signed the best available player in the world with pretty much all Europe being interested?

Because by all accounts he wants to go to the EPL, Chelsea are in desperate need of a striker, reports coming out that Roman has set aside a huge amount just for signing him specifically etc. Also Chelsea is one of the few clubs that can afford him.

 

[Pow]

Hazard probably, so nearly a decade ago while European champions.

Smells like history repeating itself

 

[troylocker]

The amount of pessimism here is laughable.
He will most certainly go somewhere else. So fecking what? The club missed out on tons of great players before.
Crying over one player, saying it's the end of the world if he doen't come, is absolutely mental.

And I don't understand how you can watch every United game and think that just a new striker will change everything. You have to be deluded to think that he can solve all the problems by himself.
How much would he cost? 120 million? How much would be left then?
Could United surpass City with Fred/Matic/McT in the middle of the pitch? Could Haaland just magically score goals w/o being facilitated?
What about right wing? Central defence?

At this point the Haaland hype is getting ridiculous. He's not Messi or Ronaldo. He's more energetic, more dynamic RVN. And I don't remember that type of players changing everything by themselves.
If he's so fecking generational and better than Mbappe why Dortmund is outside of top-4? Bloody Eintracht is above them.

Thank you for bringing back optimism with this super positive post!
We sure needed it....

 

[wolvored]

He does live in the present day, and he is not a United fan. I do think he can see longer than 3 months down the line though... He will also see a Spanish league in decline. With Real and Barca far from the galacticos or the 2010 Barca. I agree that City are favourites to sign him, I’m just saying that we are not in such a bad shape ourselves. None of the London clubs have the status to sign Haaland.
No City player have ever won the Golden boot by the way and they have never reached a CL final before....

It's all looking into a quickly diminishing past though. He was 12 last time we won the league and 3 clubs have passed us by since. He was 7 last time we won Ch Lge. He's nailed on for Madrid I think. They will find the money somewhere.

 

[cyberman]

Rumours coming out about City and Ings now. We may not get him but I dont think hes going to City

 

[Judas]

At this point it makes more sense for me to drive a muppet train towards Madrid, because anyone directed towards Manchester is more likely to end up at the wrong ground. I just don't want him at City or Chelsea.

 

[sun_tzu]

Surprised to see so many posters mentioning Chelsea.

When was the last time Chelsea signed the best available player in the world with pretty much all Europe being interested?

All of Europe probably is interested but if a deal is to be done this summer (and who knows he might hold out till the clause kicks in next summer) there will be a limited amount of clubs due to the economic impact of Covid in a position to do anything about it as presumably Dortmund will want a lot of money (100m + and are likley to want this money upfront due to the impact of covid for them... his agent and haaland will probably want 20m+ and on top of that wages presumably in the 400k a week bracket for 5 years)... essentially something like 225m with probably half of that up front

Then factor in it needs to be a league he wants to play in and a city he wants to live in and despite all the clubs wanting him those that can actually put such a package together are probably very limited

Bayern? - Unlikley Dortmund would want to sell him to Bayern plus not sure the BL is going to be where he wants his next move to be

Juve / Inter - dont have the money

PSG - have the money but cant see him moving to france

Barca - dont have the money (unless they can refinance but looks unlikely)

so that leaves real madrid who seem to prefer Mbappe?

Or the premier league with a few clubs

Liverpool - could probably afford him but again seem to prefer Mbappe

United - could probably afford him but not the best relations with his agent

City - could probably afford him -plus if sentimentality is involved in his decision his dad played for the club

Chelsea - could probably afford him and he could live in central london

Id make city Favourites

Then Chelsea and Us

But if he wants to live in london (and he wouldnt be the first foreign footballer who preferred that to Manchester) then Chelsea look a genuine option

 

[AKDevil]

Once again with the Madrid/Barcelona over United stuff. He's an English-born Norwegian, who grew up with the Premier League, in a country where the EPL is by far the most popular league, even over the national league. Back when we were the best team in the world we were constantly served the argument "why would a Latin player choose United over Barcelona/Real Madrid" where it was pointed to the fact that pretty much every Latin player grow up viewing Real Madrid/Barcelona as the ultimate dream. Well, you could easily say the same for Norwegians. For me personally, it's a 90% percent chance that he goes to an English club (City, then United & Chelsea), then the last 10% are reserved for others like Barcelona/Real Madrid/Bayern.

Tbf, I was just talking professionally. Players these days obsessed by being in CL/trophies. More likely to get both at City and Real (even though they’re not the best ATM, at least there’s a good chance they’ll always be in the running, even if only by default) of his best options, hence why I put them first. Haaland good enough to demand that who he signs for guarantees him the above.

 

[AKDevil]

The amount of pessimism here is laughable.
He will most certainly go somewhere else. So fecking what? The club missed out on tons of great players before.
Crying over one player, saying it's the end of the world if he doen't come, is absolutely mental.

And I don't understand how you can watch every United game and think that just a new striker will change everything. You have to be deluded to think that he can solve all the problems by himself.
How much would he cost? 120 million? How much would be left then?
Could United surpass City with Fred/Matic/McT in the middle of the pitch? Could Haaland just magically score goals w/o being facilitated?
What about right wing? Central defence?

At this point the Haaland hype is getting ridiculous. He's not Messi or Ronaldo. He's more energetic, more dynamic RVN. And I don't remember that type of players changing everything by themselves.
If he's so fecking generational and better than Mbappe why Dortmund is outside of top-4? Bloody Eintracht is above them.

not the end of the world if he doesn’t sign. Ultimately loads of clubs want him but there’s only one who’ll get lucky so, be extension, that’s a lot of clubs who will be in same boat as us.

 

[Siorac]

Only one team per league can win the league right.

Yes but even so, Haaland surely wants to go to a club that has a realistic chance of being that one team that wins the league. For the foreseeable future, that's not United, unfortunately.

At this point the Haaland hype is getting ridiculous. He's not Messi or Ronaldo. He's more energetic, more dynamic RVN. And I don't remember that type of players changing everything by themselves.
If he's so fecking generational and better than Mbappe why Dortmund is outside of top-4? Bloody Eintracht is above them.

Yeah, the expectations heaped on him are ridiculous. A brilliant number nine doesn't, by himself, elevate a team to title winners. Otherwise Spurs would have been a lot closer to the top of the Premier League in the last few years.

 

[Matriac]

United - could probably afford him but not the best relations with his agent

City - could probably afford him -plus if sentimentality is involved in his decision his dad played for the club

Chelsea - could probably afford him and he could live in central london

Id make city Favourites

Then Chelsea and Us

But if he wants to live in london (and he wouldnt be the first foreign footballer who preferred that to Manchester) then Chelsea look a genuine option

United is probably one of the clubs that has the best relationship with Mino (or Carmine as he's actually named, learned that one last night). We have made him a ton of money. Yes there has been some spats in the media, but that's been Mino negotiation tactics, whereas we've mostly refrained from commenting until he went too far, and then he quickly turned around after.
If anything he has a much worse relationship with Pep/City.

Haaland doesn't strike me as a player that cares too much about living in London. I think he mostly wants to live and breathe football, so as long as the club has good facilities that counts for more than night clubs and fancy restaurants. And him being Norwegian means he's more than used to the weather in Manchester.

 

[dinostar77]

I think he will go to Madrid. Mbappe is too expensive as a package and Haaland much more affordable. Its election year at Madrid and Perez needs a statement signing. Haaland makes alot of sense. They can always go in for Mbappe next season or something.

Money won't be an issue as the unused credit line is still available to Madrid if they want.

 

[GatoLoco]

Hazard probably, so nearly a decade ago while European champions.

Not that many clubs in Europe were interested in him back then though.

 

[ForeverRed1]

I'm assuming Haaland lives in the present day. I genuinely don't know if he's a United fan (which is why I asked you) because, if he is, the above will definitely factor in but otherwise our success of yesteryear will have minimal pull.

I'll answer the below for you.

1. Which club is most likely to win trophies in the PL? City
2. Which club is most likely to win the CL? City, Bayern, Real, Pool, Chelsea, even Dortmund above us
3. Which clubs have had players win the Balon D'Or most regularly? Real and Barca are undisputed here
4. Which clubs have had strikers regularly win the golden boot? City, Real, Barca, Pool, Bayern

Things can change quickly, it only takes us getting back to the CL latter stages and being close to a PL and the United brand will beat off most other clubs but, right now, we are not going to be top choice for top players. If a player and their families are open to Manchester, City will be top choice, then factor in that a lot of Europeans prefer London and Chelsea are normally No1 pick in the PL (Jorginho for example). That's not even bringing in Real or Barca or the perennial Dortmund raiders Bayern.

imagine he came here though and was the catalyst to use winning the league. If we could get him, a cb, our chances would already improve. Legend status at the club, forever, probably more than any other club in the world. He would be idolised!

 

[GatoLoco]

Because by all accounts he wants to go to the EPL, Chelsea are in desperate need of a striker, reports coming out that Roman has set aside a huge amount just for signing him specifically etc. Also Chelsea is one of the few clubs that can afford him.

How do you know he wants to go to the PL by all accounts?

 

[Zaphod2319]

Bild looked into the rumour that Chelsea was looking at a trade of Werner to Dortmund plus money for Haaland. The truth is Chelsea is looking to create a striker partnership between Werner and Haaland. Only meaning that Chelsea are working to bring Haaland to Stamford Bridge. Tuchel has been assured the club is looking to make a marque signing in the upcoming window.

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation...werner-departure-despite-haaland-links-report

 

[dinostar77]

Bild looked into the rumour that Chelsea was looking at a trade of Werner to Dortmund plus money for Haaland. The truth is Chelsea is looking to create a striker partnership between Werner and Haaland. Only meaning that Chelsea are working to bring Haaland to Stamford Bridge. Tuchel has been assured the club is looking to make a marque signing in the upcoming window.

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation...werner-departure-despite-haaland-links-report

I'd rate Chelsea's chances higher than us if Chelsea win the CL. Can't ever underestimate the allure of London for any player coming to UK.

 

[tomaldinho1]

imagine he came here though and was the catalyst to use winning the league. If we could get him, a cb, our chances would already improve. Legend status at the club, forever, probably more than any other club in the world. He would be idolised!

Woodward decides to flex his financial muscle and gets Haaland, Sancho and Konate - Ole becomes player manager for 1min cameos - we win everything.

 

[jontheblue]

No I don't. I'm talking about the fact that some young people might be politically aware, and not wanting to support totalitarian regimes where people still work on "slave contracts" or get thrown in jail for being raped or homosexual, where men and women doesn't have equal rights and those sort of things.....
City probably have the best squad in the world right now and winning trophies would pretty much be a guarantee there, but some might think about what political signals they send to the world. Haaland might not care, but he also might so there's that.

I think it's a romantic notion that doesn't seem to be borne out be real world examples - look how few players (or other people in football) want to take a stand against the WC being held in Qatar. A few, but they are noticeable by just how small a minority they are

There is a discussion perhaps to be had about the role of football in politics/world affairs, in relation to which there is much hypocrisy

However most players seem to want to stay out of all that

 

[Nero]

Do some people not realsie that Alfie Haaland played a massive 38 league games for City. He came and went and was a nobody.

You would think he's a City legend with a decade of service the way people keep bringing him up as a factor.

 

[Hansi Fick]

Yeah, of all the clubs after him, somehow I really don't think it will be Chelsea. Not impossible of course, I always tend to think Chelsea would be unattractive to players and suddenly Havertz is there.

Also, I'm going to hazard the claim that wherever he's going and whatever he decides - it won't have anything whatsoever to do with where his father played or with what he experienced during his career.

 

[jontheblue]

Do some people not realsie that Alfie Haaland played a massive 38 league games for City. He came and went and was a nobody.

You would think he's a City legend with a decade of service the way people keep bringing him up as a factor.

agreed

It's a 'nice' side factor but isn't likely to be particularly significant. I get why it appears in a list of pros and cons, but he's going to go where he thinks he will win the most trophies and get the most accolades. I'm struggling to see beyond Real, Barca and us, for those reasons

 

[Matriac]

Do some people not realsie that Alfie Haaland played a massive 38 league games for City. He came and went and was a nobody.

You would think he's a City legend with a decade of service the way people keep bringing him up as a factor.

And in the season he played 35 games for City they got relegated. Season after he played 3 games in First Division, year after he took a "career break" for 8 years before playing 2 years at a Norwegian team that's now in the 5th level of Norwegian football.

 

[stefan92]

Bild looked into the rumour that Chelsea was looking at a trade of Werner to Dortmund plus money for Haaland. The truth is Chelsea is looking to create a striker partnership between Werner and Haaland. Only meaning that Chelsea are working to bring Haaland to Stamford Bridge. Tuchel has been assured the club is looking to make a marque signing in the upcoming window.

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation...werner-departure-despite-haaland-links-report

It sounds reasonable to play Werner and Haaland together - Werner seems not at his best when he is leading the line, but having him run into the spaces Haaland creates could really work well for Chelsea and be a nightmare for many defenses.

When discussing Chelsea Tuchel really could be a factor too, as some of Haalands teammates now know him quite well from his time at Dortmund. But I have no idea whether this is good or bad for Tuchel/Chelsea, how those players view him.

Regarding all this "his father played for City" talk: It might affect Haaland a bit on the decision if he wants to go to Manchester, if he wants to live in the city. But I am very sure it won't be a factor to decide between United and City for him, I think everything his father tells him in that regard would affect both clubs the same way.

 

[Dave Smith]

Surprised to see so many posters mentioning Chelsea.

When was the last time Chelsea signed the best available player in the world with pretty much all Europe being interested?

I think the reason so many people are saying Chelsea is due to it looking like the best fit for him from a footballing perspective.

I don't know if you have seen much of Chelsea recently but they're currently defending like prime late 80s/early 90s Milan and whilst they're not creating masses of chances they are creating a decent amount and just need someone to finish them off. Furthermore, he is a type of CF they have a lot of experience of doing well with. I hate to say it but he would fit like a glove there.

The next best club fit wise (or maybe even better than Chelsea) are Bayern. However, they do not seen to be players in 2021 for him.

Another thing, which I think could possibly be the most important is that it is rumoured than any fee for him this year has to be paid in full upfront.

This is a big problem for Utd as that is not how they do business as they are one run on debt. Furthermore, the Glazer's are currently laying out serious $ on the Buccaneers currently as they are trying to get around the NFL cap requirements to sign up a number of their top players by giving them money upfront in signings fees then giving them long contracts with voidable years. I. The past week they have given something like $40m to Tom Brady, $36m to Shaq Barrett and $8m to Gronkowski, while they still have another few they need to sign up.

No way do they do that, then lay out £90m+ on Håland as that is not how they operate. This also rules out Real and Barca who are also debt operated clubs. Laporte has secured something like a £120m loan but that needs to finance their existing debt, resign Messi (one of his pledges) and cover the other (many gaps they have in their squad.) I mean their finances are so bad at the moment they couldn't raise £5m to buy Garcia in Jan.

Real, aren't quite as bad as Barca but they have similar issues and are currently financing the €1bn reno of their stadium.

That consequently leaves City, Chelsea and PSG as his real options. Personally, I do not see him going to PSG owing to them playing in France. That leaves City and Chelsea and of the two Chelsea are the better fit owing to the way they are set up. However, City do have ties with his Dad and Pep is the more influential manager.

Lets see how things play out. If the upfront fee isn't true then Utd are players, if it is, then it is a shoot out between City and Chelsea. The Spanish clubs and Bayern are no goes regardless.

 

[Eriku]

How do you know he wants to go to the PL by all accounts?

Because he’s said so? I don’t think people realise how much Norwegians get inundated with press about anything resembling an international celebrity from our own country.

I want to become as good as possible. The dream is to win the Premier League with Leeds. In addition my hosl is to become a better player than my dad was. I want to play more caps for Norway than he did.

Speaking of old man Haaland:

I think most players dream of going to the Premier League. It’s the league that gets the most attention, and there’s several really good teams there. There’s no question that the Premier League is attractive to him

One more from Alfie:

At some point in his career he will play in the Premier League, but I don’t know when that will happen. It’s a very tough league. He suits the Premier League, but we’ll see what happens

You won’t find similar quotes about Serie A or La Liga. As many Norwegians on here have pointed out, the Premiership holds a privileged position in Norway.

 

[2 man midfield]

Not that many clubs in Europe were interested in him back then though.

Maybe not in Europe but he had his pick of United, City or Chelsea, and likely more.

 

[JoeyJoJoJrShabadoo]

If he just says sack it and joins Leeds I will be incredibly impressed

 

[Hoof the ball]

I'd be furious if a club like Chelsea got Haaland. Not that I don't think they're capable of getting him, but more to the point that a team below us now for two seasons running will have been given the keys to leapfrog us, and make no mistake, if they add Haaland to that side, they will.

I can handle and understand losing out to City, but Chelsea? Nah!

 

[Pow]

I think the reason so many people are saying Chelsea is due to it looking like the best fit for him from a footballing perspective.

I don't know if you have seen much of Chelsea recently but they're currently defending like prime late 80s/early 90s Milan and whilst they're not creating masses of chances they are creating a decent amount and just need someone to finish them off. Furthermore, he is a type of CF they have a lot of experience of doing well with. I hate to say it but he would fit like a glove there.

The next best club fit wise (or maybe even better than Chelsea) are Bayern. However, they do not seen to be players in 2021 for him.

Another thing, which I think could possibly be the most important is that it is rumoured than any fee for him this year has to be paid in full upfront.

This is a big problem for Utd as that is not how they do business as they are one run on debt. Furthermore, the Glazer's are currently laying out serious $ on the Buccaneers currently as they are trying to get around the NFL cap requirements to sign up a number of their top players by giving them money upfront in signings fees then giving them long contracts with voidable years. I. The past week they have given something like $40m to Tom Brady, $36m to Shaq Barrett and $8m to Gronkowski, while they still have another few they need to sign up.

No way do they do that, then lay out £90m+ on Håland as that is not how they operate. This also rules out Real and Barca who are also debt operated clubs. Laporte has secured something like a £120m loan but that needs to finance their existing debt, resign Messi (one of his pledges) and cover the other (many gaps they have in their squad.) I mean their finances are so bad at the moment they couldn't raise £5m to buy Garcia in Jan.

Real, aren't quite as bad as Barca but they have similar issues and are currently financing the €1bn reno of their stadium.

That consequently leaves City, Chelsea and PSG as his real options. Personally, I do not see him going to PSG owing to them playing in France. That leaves City and Chelsea and of the two Chelsea are the better fit owing to the way they are set up. However, City do have ties with his Dad and Pep is the more influential manager.

Lets see how things play out. If the upfront fee isn't true then Utd are players, if it is, then it is a shoot out between City and Chelsea. The Spanish clubs and Bayern are no goes regardless.

Even if its not him we need a finisher up top. Our game up until the final third is pretty good and it's not even like we don't make chances the feckers keep missing. Though he is the dream.

 

[BarstoolProphet]

How do you know he wants to go to the PL by all accounts?

Like I said earlier in this thread; an educated guess based on interviews with him, his father, people around him, him being born in England, growing up supporting an English club etc. And the general view in Norway when it comes to EPL vs La Liga. Despite La Liga's dominance in European competitions the during his years growing up, it has barely affected its standing among Norwegians. EPL reign supreme by some distance still. Norway is probably the only country in Europe where the majority of footballers dream of playing in England, and England only. And the climate, especially where he comes from (Jæren) is pretty similar til UK's.

He and hid dad has always focused on development, hence why they chose Molde (with Ole being the main attraction) in Norway over other Norwegian clubs, why they chose the talent factory Salzburg over Juventus and why he chose Dortmund over United. But now that he's pretty much the finished article I believe he feels that he's ready to complete his dream move to England. Hopefully not to fulfill his ultimate dream - which was/is to win the Premier League with Leeds.

It's not a dig at Real Madrid, but I'm surprised that they are being mentioned over the likes of United and Chelsea here. Maybe his NT bestie Ødegaard could persuade him to choose Spain over England but it's not like his future at RM look certain at the moment.

 

[passing-wind]

Different fans opinionate different things I've seen others on sites suggesting that United have a good chance. I for all purposes though cannot see Chelsea having any gravity aside the fact they are cash strapped. I'd be shocked to see Haaland there, I think Erling is in a bracket that takes him out of the contention of us and Chelsea's hands and more into City / Bayern who are at the elite of competitiveness.

Signing Hazard is irrelevant as was Ronaldo with us both didn't have anywhere near the same appeal to the mass market compared to what we are experiencing at hand with Haaland.

 

[Rooney1987]

The Mbappe contract situation could come in to play with this, hes got 1 year left and if he doesn't agree a deal soon will get sold. I know Real are skint but they always find a way to get money, a Spanish government loan coming for Mbappe. If that does happen Haaland goes to PSG imo. Mino and Haaland will go to the highest bidder.

 

[Judas]

No chance Haaland wastes time in Paris at this stage of his career.

 

[MichaelRed]

We'll be lucky to spend more than 50m net. You can all forget about Haaland getting bought for over 100m. Even if we got him, which we never will, we'd create zero chances for him anyway and he'd flounder like every striker we've had up top for years.

 

[Gary_Walsh_Nou_Camp_Hell]

10 years of depression if he goes to city

No chance Haaland wastes time in Paris at this stage of his career.

He's clearly going to city for 3 years then Madrid. Sad anyone ever thought our club would or could land him under the current ownership

 

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

Doesn't really strike me as a 'meant to be' signing, what with his dad being a former Leeds and city player + that tackle from a former United captain.

 

[Sayros]

No chance Haaland wastes time in Paris at this stage of his career.

I doubt it as well, Mbappe came because he's from Paris and wanted to make history there, but Haaland has no connection to Paris. That being said, I could still see it happening because of their automatic inclusion in pretty much every single CL campaign and the chance to win it and make history there. I think people would be silly to automatically count out PSG, Haaland is only 20 and has plenty of times to explore many leagues like he apparently wants to do, and I think most teams will agree to his demands of a shorter contract with an exit door.

 

[Rooney1987]

No chance Haaland wastes time in Paris at this stage of his career.

Like Mbappe or Neymar. He's Mino Raiola client, he won't care he'll go to the money. He's only 20 and already had 3 clubs, including one of the Red Bull clubs for cash. He'll do a Zlatan, PSG for few years, then City, then Real and then Italy.

 

[GatoLoco]

Like I said earlier in this thread; an educated guess based on interviews with him, his father, people around him, him being born in England, growing up supporting an English club etc. And the general view in Norway when it comes to EPL vs La Liga. Despite La Liga's dominance in European competitions the during his years growing up, it has barely affected its standing among Norwegians. EPL reign supreme by some distance still. Norway is probably the only country in Europe where the majority of footballers dream of playing in England, and England only. And the climate, especially where he comes from (Jæren) is pretty similar til UK's.

He and hid dad has always focused on development, hence why they chose Molde (with Ole being the main attraction) in Norway over other Norwegian clubs, why they chose the talent factory Salzburg over Juventus and why he chose Dortmund over United. But now that he's pretty much the finished article I believe he feels that he's ready to complete his dream move to England. Hopefully not to fulfill his ultimate dream - which was/is to win the Premier League with Leeds.

It's not a dig at Real Madrid, but I'm surprised that they are being mentioned over the likes of United and Chelsea here. Maybe his NT bestie Ødegaard could persuade him to choose Spain over England but it's not like his future at RM look certain at the moment.

What you say is very interesting and certainly gives good insight into what to expect from Haaland's future.

However what I have heard from some sources in the last few weeks introduces new variables that I think many people on this forum do not seem to contemplate.

Having said this, one of the main reservations I have is that you never know what might happen with Raiola being in the middle of all the negotiations, so I guess it's better to wait and see if theses variables were spot on, or just some tricks in the poker game the agent might be playing again.