Man Utd transfer target Erling Haaland scores FIFTH hat-trick of season for Red Bull Salzburg with 27 goals in 18 games

ERLING HAALAND'S stock continues to rapidly rise after scoring a remarkable fifth hat-trick at the weekend.

The 19-year-old wonderkid bagged all three in a 3-0 victory over Wolfsberger to ensure his unbelievable goalscoring form continues.

Haaland has now scored 26 goals already this season in just 18 club appearances.

It is no wonder Europe's biggest clubs are circling for his signature as he continues to cement his reputation as one of the most prolific strikers in world football.

He has bagged 15 in 12 league appearances and another seven in four Champions League games.

And while Haaland can't stop finding the net, no Manchester United player has scored a Premier League hat-trick since Robin van Persie in 2013.

He first gained the attention of the national press when he bagged NINE goals for Norway U20 in a 12-0 win over Honduras.

United are desperate to sign a new striker in January but they face competition from Real Madrid and Barcelona for his signature.

Reports suggest that Red Bull Salzburg would hold out for a whopping £86million for his signature.

But the Red Devils will be boosted by the comments of Haaland's father, Alf-Inge, who has his career ended by Roy Keane when he played for Man City. 

He told talkSPORT: "At one stage he would like to play in the Premier League, but when that will happen, I don’t know. It is a very tough league.

"Up to now he is ahead of the stage we thought he would be at. He is built for the Premier League, but whether that will happen now or at a later stage, we don’t know.

"He is at Red Bull, a fantastic club playing Champions League so in a way he is in no hurry.

"Red Bull have shown from the past that they are a ‘middle step’ club, and if they are going to recruit players in the future they can’t put a stupid price tag on the players because nobody would want to go there."