Haaland insisted Man Utd's Ronaldo has 'always been a role model' last year

Erling Haaland might not need too much convincing to move to Manchester United this summer after revealing last year that Cristiano Ronaldo was his 'role model'.

The Borussia Dortmund forward has been heavily linked with a move away from the Bundesliga next summer, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City heavily linked.

The Norway striker, 21, has scored 19 goals in 16 matches across all competitions this season - taking his overall tally to 76 goals in 75 matches for the German outfit.

Man United appeared to be out of the running following their indifferent campaign to date, but their new German boss Ralf Rangnick has reportedly pushing the club to sign the former RB Salzburg man.

There were doubts about how Haaland would view competition with Ronaldo if he joined Old Trafford, given that they would likely be operating in similar positions.

But the Norwegian revealed last year that he would relish the chance to meet the 36-year-old Portugal international, and still has a way to go to match him and Lionel Messi.

'I would love to meet him and tell him that I'm a footballer thanks to him. For me, he's always been a role model.'

He added: 'I think only of myself, to improve my game every day. I don't need to talk about Messi and Ronaldo, probably the best players in history. I still need a lot to reach them.'

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo returned the compliment earlier this year too, insisting it is 'exciting' to see the likes of Haaland and Kylian Mbappe coming through.

'It is hard to choose just one player to say this one will be the best,' he said earlier this year. 'But I think it is exciting to see this new generation of young players, like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, who are coming through.

'Some players can have one or two great seasons, the really great players are the ones that keep doing it season after season, and that is not so easy to do. It takes a lot of hard work, and a lot of commitment.'