Manchester United among favourites to sign Erling Haaland?

RB Leipzig chief Oliver Mintzlaff has stated that Manchester United are among the leading European clubs interested in signing Red Bull Salzburg forward Erling Haaland in January.

The Norway international has been in splendid form for Salzburg this campaign and he has amassed 28 goals from 22 games before the club's ongoing winter break.

Haaland has recently been touted to seek a mid-season departure from the Austrian champions and Leipzig have been fancied to sign him due to their ownership link with Salzburg.

However, Mintzlaff has insisted that the deal is far from straightforward and added that the likes of Manchester United, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund have the advantage when it comes to meeting the demands of the player and agent.

"It is not easy. There's Manchester United, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund. And I have named the clubs that compete, and there may be salary regions that we don't want to go into. The fee is still manageable, but the package does not only consist of the transfer fee," he told Sport1.

The 18-year-old holds a close relationship with United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with whom he has worked at former club Molde. Still, a deal remains uncertain, considering the United board have concerns with his representative in Mino Raiola.

Raiola had sought to push through Paul Pogba's exit from the Red Devils during the summer transfer window. He has recently spoken in favour of the midfielder's stay at Old Trafford but it is unclear whether his relations with the hierarchy has improved.