United focused on Haaland – not Minamino
Manchester United are in talks with Red Bull Salzburg over a January transfer for Erling Haaland, but contrary to reports the club did not make a move for the Norwegian’s team-mate Takumi Minamino.
Liverpool are set to sign Minamino next month, triggering his £7.5 million release clause, but The Athletic understands the suggestion that United were beaten to the punch for the Japan winger is incorrect.
Instead, United’s efforts are being put into securing Haaland, and to that end Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ed Woodward travelled to Austria to meet the player’s representatives on Friday.
It is believed United have been given encouragement from the 19-year-old striker, who struck up a good relationship with Solskjaer while they were together at Molde, and Red Bull are open to a sale when trading begins.
After Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Everton — when United could’ve done with another goal-threat — Solskjær was asked about the young forward: “There’s been plenty of speculation, and you know I won’t talk about that, but he [Haaland] has had a great career in Salzburg, so he knows what he wants to do.”
As previously reported by The Athletic, the presence of Mino Raiola as Haaland’s agent does add another factor, though. It is believed Raiola would prefer Haaland to move to another club first, before joining United — and discussions have also been held with RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund.
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