Man Utd hoping Erling Haaland STAYS at Dortmund so club are forced into selling transfer target Manuel Akanji

MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly hoping that Borussia Dortmund keep hold of Erling Haaland this summer so they are forced to sell Manuel Akanji.

Man Utd are said to be interested in the centre-back and if star striker Haaland isn’t sold then Dortmund could have little choice but to sell Akanji for financial reasons.

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However, with the likes of Man City and PSG keen on 21-year-old Norway international Haaland, Dortmund will bank his £64m release clause if he chooses to leave.

The German side would then not need to sell Akanji although he has refused a contract extension and wants a move to the Premier League, according to BILD.

Harry Maguire has been in poor form and whoever the manager is at Old Trafford at the start of next season could be in the market for new defenders.

Akanji, 26, has been capped by the Swiss national team on 39 occasions and would be a smart signing.

Dortmund are reportedly already drawing up his replacement as they target Freiburg’s Nico Schlotterbeck.

Additionally, Dortmund hold an interest in RB Salzburg’s 19-year-old centre-forward Karim Adeyemi.

They will face no difficulty in signing the teenager if Haaland is sold as they can offer the required £30m.

If not Akanji moving to Man Utd could be used to raise funds for Adeyemi.

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The chances of Haaland staying at Dortmund for another season are slim but it could happen due to the extortionate costs involved.

In addition to weekly wage demands of £400k a week, there are also understood to be massive signing-on fees and agent fees.

It is believed Haaland has snubbed Man Utd despite them being willing to match his wage demands.