Manchester United have been dealt a significant transfer blow after Borussia Dortmund confirmed the signing of Erling Braut Håland from RB Salzburg for £17m, putting pen to paper on a four-and-a-half year deal with the Bundesliga side – however, there is a silver lining.
What’s the word, then?
Well, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were reportedly pushing to sign the 2-cap Norway international from RB Salzburg, and were believed to be stepping up their efforts to land Håland midway through December.
Sky Sports report that the Red Devils also met the 19-year-old wonderkid’s £17m release clause, although the Premier League side refused to meet the conditions for the transfer, allowing Dortmund to steal in.
Håland is one of Europe’s most highly-rated young players after netting a quite unbelievable 28 goals across all competitions so far this season, including eight goals in six Champions League group stage games – the teenager’s tally includes an eye-catching four hat-tricks, while he also has seven assists to his name.
Good news for Mason Greenwood
While Solskjaer presumably would’ve loved to land Håland given his reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young forwards, this supposed transfer blow should come as good news to another blossoming youngster in United’s very own Mason Greenwood.
We recently outlined how a move for Håland would spell bad news for the academy graduate, who has scored an impressive eight goals for the first-team so far this season including three Premier League goals.
Surely, if Borussia Dortmund’s latest capture had instead ended up at Old Trafford, it would’ve see 18-year-old Greenwood pushed down the pecking order behind Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Håland himself.
However, now that the Norwegian hitman has ended up in Germany, the teenage United star can continue his steady development under Solskjaer as the former Cardiff manager’s third-choice forward, news that will presumably be music to Greenwood’s ears.
In other news, see what the experts are saying about a Manchester United target hailed as an “exceptional talent”…
