Former Leeds United left-back Ian Harte has revealed that Erling Braut Haaland has already decided his long-term future amid Premier League transfer interest. Harte played with Haaland's dad, Alfe-Inge, at the Whites during the 2000s and the pair still have a tight relationship off the field.
Harte started his career at Leeds and broke through the club's academy, before making his first-team debut in 1996. He would go on to make 288 appearances in all competitions, helping Leeds to the Champions League semi-final, before he joined Levante after relegation to the Championship.
Similarly, Alfe-Inge Haaland played a major role in Leeds' success and ended his Whites career having appeared 78 times in the Premier League, scoring three times. However, Haaland's son has been talked about as one of the game's next hottest prospects.
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Erling, who was born in Leeds, has scored 80 goals in 83 appearances since joining from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020. He was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season and has been linked with a move to the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City in the summer.
The 21-year-old is renowed as one of Europe's best goalscorers, having impressed in the Champions League for the past three seasons. And Harte has backed him for a move to England.
"I’d hope he comes to the Premier League over a team in Spain," he told Freebets.com. "Don’t get me wrong I used to love watching Real Madrid and Barcelona playing, I used to play over there myself, but I don’t think Spanish football is the same as what it used to be.
"The Premier League is vitally important for top players and the Premier League would be delighted to have someone like Haaland playing in it. I speak to Alfe, and they know already where he’s going. They’re biting their tongues at the moment before they release where he’s going."