Liverpool and Manchester United could both miss out on Erling Braut Haaland to Leeds United, according to a new report.
Bleacher Report, as cited on the Daily Star, claim that the Whites will make a huge investment to their squad if they go on to secure promotion to the Premier League this season.
Haaland, whose father played for Leeds, is now being suggested as an ambitious summer target.
The striker is reportedly eager for his next club to be a ‘stepping stone’, amid links to RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund.
Read Liverpool verdict
This would certainly be a huge shock and you’d have to think it’s one of the more unlikely destinations for the striker.
If it were to have any chance of happening, a number of factors would need to work in their favour. Firstly, Salzburg would have to keep hold of the player until the summer at least – something that no longer looks likely with talks over his future ramping up in recent weeks.
Leeds would also have to go on and secure promotion to the Premier League. While Marcelo Beilsa’s men are in a good position, sitting two points behind leaders West Brom in the Championship, they have developed a reputation for ‘bottling’ promotion in recent years.
Leeds would also have to complete their much-anticipated takeover and convince Haaland into a move to Elland Road ahead of some of Europe’s top teams. When you see the stature of some of the clubs being linked, it’s hard to imagine the Norwegian star ending up at Leeds any time soon.
A deal to join Leipzig, who have a close connection with Salzburg, would offer him the ‘stepping stone’ move that he desires in January and looks like the most sensible option for the young striker.
