Former Leeds United defender Alf-Inge Haaland has provided new information on his son Erling Braut Haaland’s future.
The Red Bull Salzburg striker has emerged as one of Europe’s hottest properties due to his sensational goalscoring streak since moving to the Austrian champions this summer.
Born in Leeds while his father was playing for David O’Leary’s side in 2000, Leeds United fans have keenly tracked Haaland's progress ever since he said it would be his “dream” to win the Premier League with the Whites.
However, due to his stratospheric rise, it appears increasingly unlikely Leeds would ever be able to compete for a player with a reported €80m price tag.
It's plain to see United must get to the Premier League before Haaland would consider signing on at Elland Road.
The 19-year-old famously scored nine goals as Norway’s under-20s beat Honduras 12-0 in the World Cup in the summer, and is now top of the Champions League goalscoring charts with seven goals from four appearances.
He scored a hat-trick against Genk on his Champions League debut, and has since scored in every group stage game since, against Liverpool and home and away against Napoli. He also tops the Austrian Bundesliga top scorer chart with 12 goals from 11 appearances.
His father has downplayed his Leeds allegiances, but suggests a return to England is on the cards in a new interview with TalkSPORT.
“Erling was an #LUFC fan, a #ManCity fan & an #NFFC fan!”
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 6, 2019
“He would like to play in the Premier League. He’s built for it.”
“He’s at a fantastic club but they’ve shown they’re a middle-step club.”
Alf Inge Haaland discusses the future of his son @ErlingHaaland ! pic.twitter.com/L5KBbM5utF
“He was a Leeds fan, and a City fan, and a Nottingham Forest fan,” said Haaland senior.
“He followed me obviously, and that’s what you do in your youth. It’s different being a supporter than having it as your job.
“At one stage, I think he’d like to play in the Premier League, but when that’s going to happen, I don’t know. It’s a very tough league, up to now he’s ahead of the stage we thought he’d be at.
“He’s built for the Premier League at one stage, but whether that’s going to happen now or at a later stage we don’t know, but hopefully one day.”
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