Man Utd warned NOT to sign goal-mad wonderkid Haaland by Berbatov as it could ruin Rashford and Greenwood’s development
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DIMITAR BERBATOV has pleaded with Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to avoid signing goal-machine Erling Haaland.
He believes Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood’s development could come to a standstill should the Norwegian ace ditch RB Salzburg for Old Trafford in January.
Haaland is one of European football’s most sought-after players after scoring an incredible 28 goals in just 22 matches this season.
United are just one of many clubs chasing Haaland’s coveted signature.
And it’s reckoned Solskjaer is ready to make a move for his compatriot after successive wins against Spurs and Man City put United within five points of a Champions League spot.
However, Berbatov reckons Haaland would be an automatic choice in the starting XI should he join United.
That means both Rashford and Greenwood, who seem to be improving with each game, could find their progress comes to a standstill.
Rashford has scored an impressive 13 goals in 21 games this season, the same amount he managed in 47 games last term and 52 games the year before.
And Greenwood has four goals in five Europa League appearances after breaking through into Solskjaer’s matchday squad.
Berbatov is now urging the United gaffer to keep faith with his current forwards, telling Betfair: “I don’t think United need to sign a striker in January as they have decent options up front already.
“I want Marcus Rashford to get better and better, I’m a big admirer of Anthony Martial and am keen to see Mason Greenwood get more time on the pitch.
“I think United have the talent there and signing a new striker, whether it’s an emerging talent like Haaland or the more experienced Mario Mandzukic, could discourage their young players.
“I know there’s speculation about Haaland coming to United in January. He’s a big centre-forward, an old-fashioned target man who scores tap-ins – so quite different from Rashford and Martial.
“Haaland would offer United something different, but coming from RB Salzburg in Austria would be a massive step up, so United need to think carefully about if he’s the right man and how he would fit in with their style of play.
“If they could get Harry Kane then that would be great, because he has everything. But that’s not going to happen.
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“United fans want to see strikers who play with the element of surprise, beating defenders and shooting from different angles, so the way to deal with the pressure as a new United striker is to be different.
“There aren’t many strikers around who are available and would fit into United’s system.”
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