Manchester United have been urged to ditch their transfer pursuit of Red Bull Salzburg goalscoring sensation Erling Haaland .
The 19-year-old son of Alf Inge Haaland is lighting up European football with his free-scoring first season at RB Salzburg.
The youngster already boasts 23 goals in 18 games in all competitions this term, and has won his first two caps for Norway.
A clutch of top Premier League clubs are already monitoring his progress, with United believed to be considering a January swoop.
However former Red Devils hero Dimitar Berbatov believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should avoid signing the striker – because it would disrupt Marcus Rashford’s development.
(Image: Getty Images)
“I don’t think United need to sign a striker in January as they have decent options up front already,” he said.
“I want Marcus Rashford to get better and better, I’m a big admirer of Anthony Martial and am keen to see Mason Greenwood get more time on the pitch.
“I think United have the talent there and signing a new striker, whether it’s an emerging talent like Haaland or the more experienced Mario Mandzukic, could discourage their young players.
“I know there’s speculation about Haaland coming to United in January. He’s a big centre-forward, an old-fashioned target man who scores tap-ins – so quite different from Rashford and Martial.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“Haaland would offer United something different, but coming from Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga would be a massive step up, so United need to think carefully about if he’s the right man and how he would fit in with their style of play.”
Meanwhile Red Bull Salzburg chief Christoph Freund believes it is “too soon” for Manchester United target Haaland to leave the Austrian club.
Haaland is understood to have already visited the facilities of clubs in Germany’s Bundesliga, while Juventus – who have a close relationship with his agent, Mino Raiola – are also keen.
But speaking to Mirror Football this week, sporting director Freund warned Haaland against departing in January, insisting: “It’s too fast for Erling.”
