Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has denied that Red Bull Salzburg star Erling Braut Haaland is heading to Manchester for talks with the club over a proposed move.
Haaland has emerged as one of the most in-demand stars in world football following a prolific season with the Austrian champions, the 19-year-old having scored 28 goals in all competitions including eight in just six appearances in this season’s Champions League group stages.
Reports in Norwegian newspaper Aftenbladet claimed that the highly-coveted forward landed in Manchester from Stavenger at 10:15 am on Friday to hold talks with Manchester United, though ahead of the club’s meeting with Watford this weekend, Solskjaer denied the claims.
“I don’t think he’s on route here, to be fair, not through me anyway,” Solskjaer said at his pre-match press conference.
“I can’t comment on other teams’ players, I’ve said that many times and that’s just one of those things that in this job you get so many speculations all the time.”
Haaland previously played under Solskjaer for two seasons during their time together at Molde, and when pushed if the prospect was headed to Manchester, the United boss insisted that Haaland’s trip to England was to catch a connecting flight.
“Well, he is not coming to Manchester because…well, I know the boy and I know his friends and all this. He’s on a Christmas holiday.
“You can’t fly anywhere from Stavanger, can you, so you need to go via via!”
United are expected to be active ahead of the January transfer window with the club seeking additions as they bid to continue their push for a top-four finish.
Solskjaer says the Red Devils are ‘always looking’ for prospective signings, but insists they will only make new additions if it is the right profile of player that the club is looking to attract.
“As a manager you always hope that you can do something, but then again it’s not something that is nailed on,” he said.
“It has to be the right player, right age, going to fit into this squad and for the right value so we’re always looking.”
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