Andy Cole has claimed that Manchester United don't have the pulling power to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.
United have been tipped to make a move for Haaland in the summer transfer window, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly eager to reunite with a fellow Norwegian that he worked with at the start of his career at Molde.
However, several other top European clubs have also been credited with an interest in Haaland, and Cole doesn't think Old Trafford is the most attractive option for a player harbouring ambitions of winning major silverware.
What was said?
"To get these guys to come, Haaland for instance, you’ve got to entice them with something," The former Red Devils striker told the Daily Mirror.
"You’ve got to entice them with the possibility of winning silverware or being a year away from it. These guys are going to have other options, possibly Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, maybe Barcelona.
"If you’re playing and have the option of all these clubs, where would United really figure at this moment in time? Even though I love United, I don’t think the club now can ride on its name alone, especially when you’re trying to bring these players in.
"It’s not like when I signed for United. We have to be brutally honest, back then everybody wanted to go there. We’re talking 2021 now. Does everyone want to go to United now?
"I’m not quite sure everyone wants to now."
Why is Haaland in such high demand?
Haaland has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence since bursting onto the Champions League stage with Red Bull Salzburg in 2019-20.
The Austrian side exited the competition in the group stage that season, but the 20-year-old scored eight goals in their six group-stage fixtures, including one against Liverpool at Anfield.
Dortmund were impressed enough to invest £18 million ($25m) in his talents in last year's winter transfer window, and he has since taken his career to even greater heights.
Haaland has hit 43 goals in his first 44 appearances across all competitions for BVB, including 27 this season, with the Norwegian currently leading the race for the Champions League Golden Boot.
The bigger picture
Last month, Solskjaer admitted that he is keeping a close eye on Haaland's progress in Germany, but refused to be drawn on whether United will look to bring him onto their books later this year.
Summer signing Edinson Cavani, who recently turned 34, is currently the only natural centre-forward option in Solskjaer's squad, and Haaland would be the ideal man to come in and fill that role in the long-term.
However, City could also be in the hunt for the Dortmund forward with the Premier League leaders yet to offer Sergio Aguero fresh terms as he enters the final months of his contract.
City are the dominant force in English football at the moment and therefore may hold greater appeal to Haaland than United, who are still very much a work in progress under Solskjaer.
Indeed, the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and more are likely to be keeping an eye on the latest developments regarding Haaland and his future.
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