Haaland receives 28-day loan offer from SEVENTH-tier side Ashton United

Seventh-tier side Ashton United have made an audacious loan bid for Manchester City star Erling Haaland.

The 22-year-old Norwegian, who moved to the Etihad this summer for £52million from Borussia Dortmund, has scored 23 goals in just 18 games in all competitions for Pep Guardiola's side.

And Haaland is widely considered one of the best players in the world - but that hasn't stopped the Northern Premier League Premier Division outfit approaching City over a 28-day loan, spanning the month during the Qatar World Cup.

The Robins said in a statement: 'Ashton United can confirm that the club has submitted a 28-day loan approach for Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

'With the current Premier League champions not in action until late December due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, The Robins have reached out to our neighbours at the Etihad in order to keep Haaland's match fitness with him not being involved in Qatar.

'The club are yet to receive any response from Manchester City,' before later tweeting: 'It’s no hoax guys, we are waiting on the response!' followed by a fingers-crossed emoji.

Manager Michael Clegg added: 'It just makes sense. City aren't playing, and we want to help by keeping Erling fit, it makes more sense than him playing golf for six weeks.

'We think he will be a great fit for us, and would slot in with our squad dynamic really well.'

The club's tweet announcing the cheeky bid, posted at around 2pm on Monday, has already been liked nearly 20,000 times at the time of writing, with the club later joking their website had crashed after the news.

Ashton United currently lie in 11th place, eight points off league leaders Hyde United, with two sides to be promoted to the sixth-tier National League North at the end of the season.

The club - based in Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, was founded in 1878 and their Hurst Cross stadium has a capacity of 4,500 people - although more might squeeze in if they do manage to sign Haaland.

Although Haaland has dominated against almost every side he has faced in his career, it remains to be seen if he can do it on a cold Tuesday night away at Bamber Bridge.