Manchester United 'battling' Arsenal to sign next Erling Haaland and more transfer rumours

Manchester United are reportedly 'battling' Arsenal to sign Norwegian wonderkid Sivert Mannsverk from Molde ahead of the January transfer window.

According to French outlet Jeunesfooteux (via HITC), United are interested alongside the Gunners in signing the 20-year-old. It is thought that Mannsverk is available for as little as £9million, something that will no doubt delight Erik ten Hag as he looks to find ways of strengthening his squad without a repetition of the summer's heavy spending.

The Molde midfielder has made 62 appearances for his Scandinavian side, with his fine form seeing him called up to the Norway squad off the back of his performances. The report states that Ten Hag's former club Ajax are also looking to sign Mannsverk, and that should a club pay the £9m necessary for his services, it would overtake their previous club record fee for a sale (£8m), when Erling Haaland joined RB Salzburg.

Elsewhere, ESPN report that Ten Hag has told the club he is 'frustrated' that United could not complete the signing of Cody Gakpo.

They claim that the Reds did not submit an official bid for the PSV star due to their inability to match the financial package on offer from Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp's side look set to imminently announce the signing of the 23-year-old, despite the winger being heavily linked with a move to United since the summer.

The MEN understands that the club are now looking to secure a short-term loan deal for a forward in the January transfer window in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the £225m spent over the summer. The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo has freed up funds from the wage budget, allowing more money to potentially be spent on any new striker's wages and a possible loan fee instead.