Manchester United have been doing something you don’t see from most big clubs nowadays, and that is showing a commitment to their youth. The club that normally outspends nearly everyone in the Premier League has decided to limit overpaying ineffective players and give younger players like 18-year-old forward Mason Greenwood crucial minutes instead.

Manchester United have also spent an increasing amount of money on young promising players that they can develop in comparison to past years where the focus was on proven talents, who were more expensive and often did not fit the squad. 

Over the summer, Manchester United bought 21-year-old winger Daniel James from Swansea and despite many not expecting him to not have much of an impact, he has been a crucial addition to Manchester United’s locker room.

With rebuilding comes bumps and bruises. Manchester United has not been the perennial Premier League contender it is known to be. While they currently sit in sixth place, the quality of play is not where it has been in past years.

The team is consistently drawing or losing matches against teams like Everton and Sheffield United, which has put manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s job in doubt. After Sunday’s disappointing draw against Everton, Solskjaer was asked about the long rumored transfer for 19 year-old forward Erling Haaland.

“I don’t comment on these speculations,” Solskjaer said of the rumors. “[Haaland] knows what he wants to do, and he knows what he’s going to do, so I don’t give advice to any other teams players.”

Not long after the quote, reports from multiple news outlets said that Haaland told Solskjaer that he wants to move to Manchester United. The feeling should be mutual as the club should be excited about the thought of bringing in Haaland, a player who fits Manchester United so perfectly.

While Marcus Rashford and Greenwood have both impressed scoring a combined 21 goals in all competitions, neither seem to be as clinical as Haaland. Haaland’s scoring prowess has been on display since the second he became a pro and has only improved with experience. At 19 years old, Haaland has an impressive 28 goals in 22 games this season with Red Bull Salzburg.

Haaland provides additional goal scoring, something you can never have too much of, as well as a perfect fit to the clubs current philosophy. As I previously stated, United is in the middle of a youth movement and is placing an emphasis on youth similar to how Sir Alex Ferguson did during his legendary spell at the club.

Manchester United Club Chairman Ed Woodward has bought young players like, [Daniel] James and 22 year-old Aaron Wan-Bissaka over the summer as well as Diogo Dalot the summer before that. Haaland also has a previous relationship with Solskjaer as the Manchester United coach was Haaland’s manager at Norweigan club Molde.

The two seemed to have a good relationship, and it was at Molde with Solskjaer as his manager that Haaland’s reputation as one of the brightest young stars in soccer started to reveal itself.

A potential Haaland transfer to Manchester United would be a win-win. It would obviously give Haaland the fame and acclaim that comes with playing at such a big club, while giving Manchester United a fantastic young striker that could accelerate it’s rebuild.