Manchester United’s hunt for a new centre-forward has taken a familiar turn for Norwegian football – straight back towards Erling Haaland’s inner circle.
Alexander Sorloth, Haaland’s close friend and international team-mate, has been offered to United by intermediaries, with the Atletico Madrid striker emerging as a serious option in the final days of the window, sources have told TEAMtalk.
United want another striker in before Tuesday’s deadline. Not a body. A proper No.9.
Joshua Zirkzee’s departure to Fiorentina has left Michael Carrick short of depth up front, and the club’s recruitment team are now working through a shortlist of profiles rather than names. The brief is clear: find a genuine central option who can complement – and, when needed, compete with – Benjamin Sesko.
Sorloth fits that description.
A powerful profile back on the Premier League radar
The 30-year-old Norway international is open to leaving Atletico this summer and would welcome a return to the Premier League, having previously had a spell at Crystal Palace. His game has evolved since then, and his numbers tell part of the story: 175 career goals in 475 matches underline a striker who knows his way around the penalty area.
Atletico have been impressed with his impact. His physical presence, aerial dominance and experience of English football tick several of United’s boxes as they look for someone who can lead the line, occupy centre-backs and give Sesko a different kind of support.
Atletico are prepared to let Sorloth go – but only on their terms. The Spanish club will sanction an exit if, and only if, they secure a suitable replacement.
Atletico’s domino effect: Jesus, David and a complicated market
Diego Simeone’s side intend to keep Julian Alvarez, but they still want another striker through the door. Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus and former Lille forward Jonathan David are among the options under consideration.
Juventus have stepped into the same market, exploring a deal for David that could involve Sorloth and Nico Gonzalez in a complex exchange. Those negotiations are becoming increasingly tangled, and any movement there could directly influence Sorloth’s availability to United.
David’s name also sits on United’s desk. TEAMtalk understands the Canada international has been offered to the club, who are weighing up whether his profile suits the role they are trying to fill in Carrick’s attack.
Mateta, Matanovic and the rest of the shortlist
Sorloth is not the only name in play.
United have held talks with Crystal Palace over Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr, though both potential deals are described as complicated. Age, price, role, and squad balance are all factors, and none of those discussions has yet produced a clear path.
Younger forwards are also under review. Freiburg’s Igor Matanovic, Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani and RB Leipzig’s Conrad Harder have all been discussed internally as longer-term bets, players who could grow behind Sesko rather than demand immediate starter status.
For now, though, Sorloth offers something different: experience, a proven goal record, and a frame built for Premier League battles.
A Norwegian twist to the Manchester rivalry
One detail adds spice. Sorloth’s close relationship with Manchester City star Haaland gives the story an extra edge. The idea of the two friends leading opposite front lines in the same city will not be lost on anyone in Manchester – or in Norway.
United’s stance remains firm. They will not sign a striker for the sake of it. The priority is the right partner and alternative to Sesko, not a panic addition to fill a squad number.
If that player emerges in the next few days, they move. If not, there is every chance they walk away.
Whether Alexander Sorloth becomes the next No.9 to walk out at Old Trafford now depends on how quickly the pieces fall in a striker market that is suddenly running out of time.
