Parker would snub Haaland signing and target two Man City defenders for United instead

Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker has said he would reject the chance to sign Erling Haaland, arguing the Norwegian striker is not the right fit for the club and that defensive reinforcements should take priority.

Speaking to PariuriX.com, Parker was unequivocal: “It’s probably not realistic anyway, but I wouldn’t take Haaland at Man Utd. I wouldn’t want to see him at the club with the way he plays. I would say no to him. He is an easy one for everyone to look at but it wouldn’t be me. I am not even interested in him.”

Haaland has scored 172 goals in 207 appearances for Manchester City since joining from Borussia Dortmund, helping the club to two Premier League titles and a Champions League crown. He has also been a persistent thorn in United’s side, registering nine goals in 11 career appearances against them.

Rather than pursuing the striker, Parker identified two players he would prioritise — both currently at City rivals. “I would be looking at Nico O’Reilly and Marc Guehi,” he said. “Nico O’Reilly is a super player. Marc Guehi isn’t the player he was at Crystal Palace, but Man Utd needs straightening in the back four and he is the one I would be looking at.”

The comments arrive against a backdrop of long-standing regret within United’s corridors over their failure to sign Haaland earlier in his career. Former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has previously revealed he urged the club to move for the striker on multiple occasions.

“I had him in Molde for two seasons,” Solskjaer said. “The summer before I got here, I rang the club and said, ‘You’ve got to sign this boy. He’ll be top class.’ That was June, July 2018, and they said no.”

Solskjaer added that a subsequent opportunity also slipped away. “I tell the club straight away to buy him while he has a release clause. No one else would’ve paid the money — €20m, it would’ve been a bargain. By then, Borussia Dortmund were there, Juventus were there, everyone was there. His release clause then was still good — €60m.”

Haaland is set to feature for City against newly-promoted Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.