The whole of Europe has sat up and taken serious notice of Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg this season.

Jesse Marsch's side have played some dazzling football in the Champions League, with their run in the competition only brought to an end by a brutally efficient Liverpool performance on Tuesday.

Jurgen Klopp's side ran out 2-0 winners in Salzburg, but the likes of Takumi Minamino and Erling Haaland reminded the world once again what talented players they are.

Minamino has already agreed a January move to the Reds for just £7.25m and Haaland could also be on his way to the north of England in a month's time on the cheap.

According to the Telegraph, Manchester United are leading the race to sign the 19-year-old striker for just £20m, due to a release clause in his contract.

Haaland reportedly visited the training grounds of both Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig on Wednesday, but it's the Red Devils who are still in pole-position.

Juventus are also in the mix and Haaland will speak to all interested parties before making the biggest decision of his career so far.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave the teenage sensation his first-team debut while he was at Molde and Haaland is keen to emulate his father, Alf-Inge, by playing in the Premier League.

The Norwegian would be the ideal man to act as the focal point of United's attack, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial either side.

Mason Greenwood, Daniel James and Jesse Lingard would then provide the competition for places.

All sounds too good to be true, doesn't it United fans?

ANALYSIS

GiveMeSport's Danny Ryan says:

This could be another Wayne Rooney-type signing for the Red Devils, a top teenage talent, oozing with confidence ready to bolster the forward line.

Twenty-eight - yes 28 - goals before January is outrageous and it's exactly the type of marquee signing the club needs to build on their recent impressive performances.

However, I do believe it could be bad news for Martial. The Frenchman looks far more at home in the middle or on the left, positions he'd be unlikely to occupy should Haaland arrive.

I do not believe Martial is suited to the right, as we all know his favourite weapon is to cut inside defenders and wreak havoc.

But maybe, just maybe, the competition Haaland would bring would prompt Martial into delivering world-class performances on a consistent basis for a change.