Erling Haaland is the dream striker signing for Manchester United in 2022.
With every top team in Europe likely to show an interest, landing Haaland won’t be easy.
So United need to have several contingency plans, and one would involve avoiding the mistake made first allowing Haaland to slip past them.
Step forward Haaland’s prolific younger cousing, Albert Braut Tjaland.
What do we know about Tjaland?
Tjaland followed Haaland’s path in signing for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former club Molde in 2020.
Previously Tjaland was playing for lower tier side Bryne FK where he scored a staggering 40 goals in 31 matches, The Mail report. Like Haaland he is a striker who is deadly in front of goal.
After tearing it up for Molde’s youth teams last season – Marca claimed he scored 64 goals in 37 matches – Tjaland has now been promoted to the first team.
Tjaland, 17, scored his first senior goal for Molde on his debut last week in a cup game agains Spjelkavik. After being brought on in the 83rd minute, he scored in the 90th to wrap up a 4-1 win. He has shown he is ready to start making an impact.
Why United can’t snap him up now
There would be some logic to suggesting United should do what the club failed to do with Erling Haaland, and take a punt on him early and sign him up.
Brexit restrictions mean this is no longer possible, with the club not permitted to sign non-UK players under 18.
As Tjaland does not turn 18 until February, United cannot sign him in the winter transfer window either.
Next summer United will be able to make an offer, but of course by then Erling Haaland will be a more expensive priority.
Tjaland could still be worth paying attention to. He looks set for a strong career and clearly has an eye for goal. If he continues to thrive over the next year for Molde, he could become a savvy investment.
The young striker could become a noteworthy Haaland alternative if United are unsuccessful landing the Dortmund superstar.
Potentially, bringing in Tjaland anyway could appeal to Haaland, so that the pair could link up at Old Trafford. For a small fee, a move for Tjaland might give United an edge, and pay off in it’s own right. No doubt Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be keeping a close eye on his former club.
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