Many Leeds fans have been reacting on Twitter, after the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Phil Hay shared that the club had tried to sign Norway youth international Erling Braut Haland last summer.
Haland, the sun of former Whites defender-come-midfielder Alf-Inge, was born in Leeds in July 2000, and once shared that he has career ambitions of lifting the Premier League with United.
However, when the opportunity came in 2018 to move to Elland Road, the 18-year-old centre-forward opted for a move to the Austrian Bundesliga with RB Salzburg, in a deal TransferMarkt understand came to £4.5million.
Hay believes this was not through a lack of trying on our part, either, but rather that Salzburg offered the Bryne FK product – who rose to prominence in the Norwegian leagues with Molde FK – a considerably greater financial package, and in this case, money spoke loudest.
Haland’s situation is generating a lot of interest recently, as he struck a treble hat-trick for his country at the U20 World Cup on Thursday – the first player to ever score nine goals in a single U20 World Cup fixture.
His efforts for Salzburg have also been impressive, having scored four in the Europa League Qualifying Rounds, as well as one in the Austrian Bundesliga during his only 82 minutes in the competition to date.
When Hay shared that Leeds had missed out on signing Haland, here’s how these Whites supporters reacted…
After scoring three hat-tricks in one game, perhaps Red Bull does give you wings ????♂️
— I’d Radebe Leeds (@Radebe_Leeds) May 31, 2019
So not enough StErling Braut Haaland to us?
— Mick Ward (@MWardy21) May 31, 2019
After saying his dream was playing for Leeds. ???? we need to draw a line under that one then.
— Brandon Yates (@BielsaIsMyDad) May 31, 2019
Very short career in football, he’s gone purely for financial reasons, if Leeds could offer the same I’m sure he’d jump ship
— Ashley Oakes (@Oakes_89) May 31, 2019
Once again #lufc on the cheap hey @andrearadri
— Paul (@Psych_Squirrel) May 31, 2019
I reckon he will be one we regret not doing more to convince, but if he is just the type to chase the money I guess we wouldn’t have kept him long anyway.
— StrachanPen (@crajik) May 31, 2019
It’s not just chasing money. I think the Austrian league is «easier» to develop in as a 18/19 year old. He also get to play European football. If Leeds manages to get back where they belong he is 100% gonna be tempted. Who wouldnt? Leeds is massive.
— Ole ???????? (@OleAasheim) May 31, 2019
Cheeky Loan this summer worth a shot or nah?
— ROSSii (@MrROSSii1990) May 31, 2019
He’s on about £18k a week as a 17 year old. No way #lufc were going to pay that unfortunately. But a season long loan …
— Brighterbeat (@EastStandL29) May 31, 2019
Can’t have been too much though, just considerably more than WE were willing to pay which tends to be peanuts. Salzburg will develop him and make him a 10+ million player, it’s what they do, a selling club. Like Dan James, another talent that has slipped the net.
— leedsyorks68 (@leedsyorks68) May 31, 2019
Outdone by £5 ????
— Mip (@mipsical) May 31, 2019