Football
Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC 6y

Manchester United step up interest in Norway teenager Erling Braut Haaland - sources

Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Norwegian teenager Erling Braut Haaland -- son of former Manchester City midfielder Alfie -- after watching him score all four goals in Molde's 4-0 win against Brann on Sunday.

The 17-year-old, who has also been watched by his father's former club Leeds United this season, scored four goals in 21 minutes as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team defeated Norwegian league leaders Brann.

And sources have told ESPN FC that United's Scandinavian scout Tommy Moller Nielsen was in attendance at the game to monitor Haaland's performance.

The 6-foot-2 centre-forward has already scored five goals in three appearances for Norway's under-19 team, with his goals against Brann taking his tally for Molde to six goals in 13 appearances so far this season.

Haaland's link to United is likely to evoke bitter memories for his father Alfie, who became embroiled in an ugly spat with former Old Trafford captain Roy Keane.

Keane blamed Haaland for his reaction to the cruciate ligament injury he sustained while tackling the then-Leeds player at Elland Road in Sept 1997.

The Irishman then went on to admit in his autobiography that he intentionally set out to injure Haaland during a Manchester derby in April 2001 with a challenge that saw him sent off -- an admission which earned him a five-match ban and £150,000 fine following the publication of his book.

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