It's Not Manchester United – Salzburg Sporting Director Names Club That Will Next Sign Haaland

Erling Haaland, who is currently playing for Borrusia Dortmund, will eventually "land" at Liverpool FC, according to the sporting director of the player’s former club RB Salzburg.

Salzburg chief Christoph Freund appeared on Sky Sports along with Germany legend Lothar Matthaus and, when Matthaus suggested Liverpool as Haaland’s next destination, Freund immediately agreed.

"That's where he will land. He can play for any club in the world. With his mentality, his will, with his self-confidence he can make a mark on European football in the next ten years," added Salzburg sporting director Freund.

The 20-year-old Haaland, who was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United because of his fellow Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s insistence, the young player eventually joined Dortmund in the 2020 January transfer window. After scoring 28 goals in 22 appearances for Salzburg in the 2019-20 season, Haaland announced himself by netting 16 goals in 18 matches for Dortmund in the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign.

Haaland, who has provided six assists and scored 24 goals in as many as 27 matches for Dortmund so far, is currently contracted with the German club until 2024, but he has a special clause in his contract that will allow him to part ways in 2022, and Freund believes Haaland will eventually take another step up the footballing ladder.

"Dortmund is one of the top 10 teams in Europe, but there are five or six better teams and that is where he will play at some point. I'm thinking of the top clubs; not necessarily Bayern Munich, because Robert Lewandowski will be playing for the next two or three years and Haaland will probably not stay in Dortmund that long, " Matthaus added.

It was previously reported that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is seeing Haaland as a long-term replacement for Roberto Firmino, who could land at Real Madrid next summer.

Earlier, the Salzburg sporting director told Goal in an interview that Haaland leaving only after one full season at the club is quite normal for a club of Salzburg’s standing.

"Erling was not a special story in this respect. That doesn't hurt us at all, it makes us proud because it's part of our concept. The player can take the next step, we get income through a transfer, which we can invest in scouting and new talent, among other things. In addition, there is again a free place in the squad that the next talent can take. It is a confirmation for us that we are on the right path and that we are on the right path," Freund said in the Goal interview.