Leeds United's courtship of world class centre-forward Erling Haaland has been a constant ever since his rise to stardom, but it began long before he was a household name and even before Leeds fans even knew he was born in the city.
His father Alf-Inge 'Alfie' Haaland was a regular for Leeds United at the time of Erling's birth, spending three years at Elland Road between 1997 and 2000.
Such were the strong links still with the club that according to The Athletic, Alfie's son Erling Braut was given a tour of Leeds' Thorp Arch training complex as an 18-year-old before he ultimately sealed a move to Austrian club FC Red Bull Salzburg.
At this point, Haaland was little known outside of his native Norway, having come through at lower league outfit Bryne FK before switching to Norwegian giants Molde FK, managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Now the envy of every team in the world, at 18 Haaland Jnr had only just grown into his 6ft 4in frame, after undergoing an intense physical change which he termed a 'growth spurt'.
A gangly, uncoordinated teenage striker developed into a robotic, freakish centre-forward capable of mowing down any defence with his running. That was when Leeds - and fatefully Red Bull Salzburg - attempted to poach him from Molde.
The Athletic report that Haaland was shown around Elland Road and Thorp Arch, but that Salzburg's contract offer - backed with the funding of energy drink conglomerate Red Bull's financial empire - meant they were unable to compete.
Had it not been for the financial clout of Red Bull, Haaland may have lived out a childhood fantasy and taken to the field at Elland Road.
Missing out on top Norwegians appears to be a familiar theme though, with The Athletic also claiming that Leeds were in discussions with FK Bodo/Glimt midfielder Jens Petter Hauge this summer.
A cruel twist of fate denied them their man once again as chance meeting between between Glimt and Italian giants AC Milan in a Europa League qualifying match saw Hauge star, almost eliminating the Milanese side.
Norwegian football expert Ben Wells claimed on the Scouted Football Podcast that after that match, Hauge was sought out by AC Milan director and club legend Paolo Maldini who informed him there would be an approach by the club.
Hauge was a serious player in Glimt's first ever Norwegian title triumph this year, scoring 14 goals in 18 appearances in the Eliteserien before securing his Serie A switch.
