One of Europe’s most sought-after young strikers, Erling Haaland is the target of several of Europe’s top clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United, on the back of his Champions League heroics this season.

But according to reports in Germany, Borussia Dortmund could be in a prime position to land the RB Salzburg player for as little as 20 million euros in January.

Why Haaland could choose Dortmund over Real Madrid

While it is understood that Haaland eventually wants to play for one of the European greats, Bild claims that the 19-year-old Norwegian may see Dortmund as a suitable club to continue his development while still guaranteeing him regular playing time.

With the fierce competition among strikers under Zinedine Zidane, it would be difficult for Real Madrid to offer him the same conditions. Dortmund is well known as a ‘stepping-stone’ club, where the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembélé and Christian Pulisic earned their stripes before moving onto bigger clubs.

“At one stage he would like to play in the Premier League, but when that will happen, I don’t know,” his father. representative and former Premier League player Alfe-Inge Haaland recently told talkSPORT.

Bild also cites Dortmund’s good relationship with Haaland's agent, Mino Raiola, as another factor playing into the German outfit’s favour. It has been previously reported that Manchester United’s rocky relationship with the well-known super-agent, who also represents Paul Pogba, could be an obstacle for the Red Devils in landing Haaland.

Full screen Haaland has netted 27 goals in 20 games this season. Yorick Jansens/BELGA/dpa

Haaland’s stunning season with Salzburg

The young Norwegian forward has been one of the unexpected sensations in European football this season, having netted an incredible 27 goals in 20 games, including a hat-trick in his Champions League debut against Genk that catapulted him to stardom.

He has since gone on to score a further five goals in the UCL and already has three hat tricks to his name in the Austrian Bundesliga, where RB Salzburg currently sit top of the table.

Haaland’s current deal at RB Salzburg runs until 2023. But with his buyout clause set at just 20 million euros, the 19-year-old, currently valued a 30 million euros, could prove to be bargain of the January transfer window for one lucky suitor.