Liverpool could “pounce” to sign Red Bull Salzburg striker Erling Braut Haaland in the January transfer window after being handed a “huge boost” in their pursuit of the teenager, according to the Express.
The newspaper claims that recent quotes by ex-Norway international Erik Thorstvedt which say that Salzburg are a “selling club” is reason enough for Liverpool to have been handed their transfer boost.
Gazzetta Dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira reported on his personal Twitter account earlier this week that Liverpool had been keeping tabs on the Leeds-born striker while Calcio Mercato has claimed Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United and Juventus are all keen.
Thorstvedt has now told Norwegian TV channel TV2 that Haaland could end up being available in January amid his links to the Premier League.
“There may be someone who will take a chance in January to move in first,” the former goalkeeper said, as quoted by the Mirror. “And then let him play at Salzburg for the rest of the season.
“Salzburg are a selling club and they will sell when they will get the most money.
“If it is next summer that they will get the most money for him, they will sell then.”
OPINION
It remains to be seen how the Express’ claim plays out. While Thorstvedt is no doubt an avid follower of Haaland as he played alongside his father for the Norwegian national team in the 1990s, there have to be questions raised about whether simply what he says about Salzburg have any link to Liverpool. Sure, the Reds may be interested in Haaland and with the 19-year-old scoring 20 goals in 13 appearances across all competitions already this season, who wouldn’t be interested in him? It is easy to see why Thorstvedt would say that Salzburg are a “selling club”. They have seen players such as Sadio Mane and come and go in recent years only for them to go onto much bigger things. There is a lot more hype surrounding Haaland though than there ever was about Mane during his time in Austria, so this is a teenager who seems as though he is bound to become a real star in the future.
