Ralf Rangnick has refuted ‘nonsense’ reports regarding Erling Haaland and has discussed potential Manchester United signings ahead of the January transfer window.
Rangnick has addressed the media for the first time since his appointment at Old Trafford was confirmed, the German having received his work permit to begin his tenure as interim manager.
The German arrives into English football with a fine reputation, having overseen Red Bulls’ development as a football brand during a director of football role at Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig, including luring a young Erling Haaland to Salzburg from Molde, before his eventual move to Borussia Dortmund.
Haaland has since scored 71 goals in 70 appearances for Dortmund and is set to spark a scramble for his signature from Europe’s elite this summer, especially given the presence of a €75 million release clause in his contract.
Reports this week from German outlet Bild claimed that Rangnick would receive a €10m bonus should he convince Haaland to sign for the Red Devils, with the Norway international amongst the most in-demand players in world football.
Rangnick has rubbished those reports ahead of this weekend’s clash with Crystal Palace, however, and says his immediate focus is on the players currently at his disposal.
Asked about those claims at his pre-match press conference, Rangnick joked that there was similar clauses if he could lure a whole host of work class talent to Manchester. “10 million for Haaland, 10 million for Mbappe, 10 million for Lewandowski and 10 million for Kimmich,” Rangnick said, while pretending to flick through the details of his contract, before flat out refuting the suggestion.
“This is nonsense. There is no such clause in my contract. There is little point in speculating over new players. I know what kind of player he is, but in the meantime, the whole world has realised how good the player is.
“The offensive players we have here, we have so many top players in the offensive department that we don’t need to speak about any other player.”
There have been reports that Man Utd could hand the German ‘up to £100m’ in the January transfer window, though Rangnick says he has not spoken with the club’s recruitment team over new additions, insisting his focus is on securing immediate results before attentions turn towards the winter window.
“We haven’t spoken about new players,” he said.
“Now is the time to get to know the current squad. There is enough players. Maybe after Christmas there will be a time to talk about possible transfers in the winter. In my experience, it is not the time for sustainable transfers.”
