I spoke to Erling Haaland’s dad about possible Arsenal transfer when he was 17 – he was always destined for greatness

Erling Haaland has proven to be a constant thorn in Arsenal’s side – but he could have joined them early in his career. That’s according to ex-Gunners head scout Brian McDermott, who has revealed he spoke the the striker’s dad about bringing the then-17-year-old to north London. Haaland is the top scorer in the Premier League following the opening three gamesGetty McDermott is a product of Arsenal’s academy and went on to score 13 goals in 72 games between 1979-1984. Following his retirement from playing, he notably went on to manage Reading and Leeds, who Haaland’s dad Alf-Inge [Alfie] used to represent. In 2015, McDermott returned to Arsenal as their chief scout, before resuming his role from 2016-2020 after a second stint at Reading. And he immediately identified Haaland as a potential option for Arsenal, but sadly, a switch to the Emirates Stadium didn’t fit into the player’s plans. While Arsenal never entered talks to sign him, McDermott approached Haaland’s father, who made it clear they were on the lookout for first-team football. Haaland would eventually depart Bryne for Norwegian club Molde in 2017 – scoring 20 goals in 50 games in all competitions – before joining Red Bull Salzburg in 2019. Less than 12 months later, he linked up with Borussia Dortmund before signing for Manchester City in 2022 where he has become one of the world’s bets strikers. In his eight outings against the Gunners, he has found the back of the net on four occasions – including his last two appearances. But if McDermott had it his way, Haaland would’ve been plying his trade in red and white. What did Brian McDermott say about Erling Haaland? McDermott was speaking with talkSPORT’s Jermaine Pennant, who conceded moving to Arsenal when he was 16 wasn’t the best decision for his career as he never made his debut until he was 21. McDermott spent five years as a player at Arsenal and enjoyed two spells as their head scout It made McDermott recall his approach for Haaland, as he said: “I worked for Arsenal for a number of years. “And I saw Haaland play when he was sort of 17, playing for his national side. “The thing with someone like Haaland at that time, it was obvious talent – 6 foot 3inches, could run, etc… everything going for him. “But to bring him to Arsenal at that time, at that age, would he have got into the team? “And I spoke to his dad, Alfie, because I was manager at Leeds, and so Alfie and I had a bit of something in common. “Would he have played for Arsenal at that time? Probably not. Haaland has typically been in lethal form in front of goal this term “And his career was totally mapped out, they knew exactly where he was going to go. “They knew where he was going to play and how it was going to be and it was all about first-team football for them. “And sometimes you get a youngster going to the Arsenal, to Chelsea, whatever. “Like Jermaine said, he didn’t make his debut until he was 21 at Arsenal. And there’s your problem. “It’s all about first-team football. There aren’t many Wayne Rooneys in this world. “There aren’t many kids that can play week in and week out.” Haaland has banged in 127 goals from 149 outings for the CitizensGetty Haaland will reignite his rivalry with Arsenal in the second Premier League game back after the international break. The two teams meet at the Emirates on September 21 with City looking to win their first top-flight match against Arsenal since the 2022/23 season.

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I spoke to Erling Haaland’s dad about possible Arsenal transfer when he was 17 – he was always destined for greatness

Erling Haaland has proven to be a constant thorn in Arsenal’s side – but he could have joined them early in his career.

That’s according to ex-Gunners head scout Brian McDermott, who has revealed he spoke the the striker’s dad about bringing the then-17-year-old to north London.

Haaland is the top scorer in the Premier League following the opening three games

McDermott is a product of Arsenal’s academy and went on to score 13 goals in 72 games between 1979-1984.

Following his retirement from playing, he notably went on to manage Reading and Leeds, who Haaland’s dad Alf-Inge [Alfie] used to represent.

In 2015, McDermott returned to Arsenal as their chief scout, before resuming his role from 2016-2020 after a second stint at Reading.

And he immediately identified Haaland as a potential option for Arsenal, but sadly, a switch to the Emirates Stadium didn’t fit into the player’s plans.

While Arsenal never entered talks to sign him, McDermott approached Haaland’s father, who made it clear they were on the lookout for first-team football.

Haaland would eventually depart Bryne for Norwegian club Molde in 2017 – scoring 20 goals in 50 games in all competitions – before joining Red Bull Salzburg in 2019.

Less than 12 months later, he linked up with Borussia Dortmund before signing for Manchester City in 2022 where he has become one of the world’s bets strikers.

In his eight outings against the Gunners, he has found the back of the net on four occasions – including his last two appearances.

But if McDermott had it his way, Haaland would’ve been plying his trade in red and white.

What did Brian McDermott say about Erling Haaland?

McDermott was speaking with talkSPORT’s Jermaine Pennant, who conceded moving to Arsenal when he was 16 wasn’t the best decision for his career as he never made his debut until he was 21.

McDermott spent five years as a player at Arsenal and enjoyed two spells as their head scout

It made McDermott recall his approach for Haaland, as he said: “I worked for Arsenal for a number of years.

“And I saw Haaland play when he was sort of 17, playing for his national side.

“The thing with someone like Haaland at that time, it was obvious talent – 6 foot 3inches, could run, etc… everything going for him.

“But to bring him to Arsenal at that time, at that age, would he have got into the team?

“And I spoke to his dad, Alfie, because I was manager at Leeds, and so Alfie and I had a bit of something in common.

“Would he have played for Arsenal at that time? Probably not.

Haaland has typically been in lethal form in front of goal this term

“And his career was totally mapped out, they knew exactly where he was going to go.

“They knew where he was going to play and how it was going to be and it was all about first-team football for them.

“And sometimes you get a youngster going to the Arsenal, to Chelsea, whatever.

“Like Jermaine said, he didn’t make his debut until he was 21 at Arsenal. And there’s your problem.

“It’s all about first-team football. There aren’t many Wayne Rooneys in this world.

“There aren’t many kids that can play week in and week out.”

Haaland has banged in 127 goals from 149 outings for the Citizens

Haaland will reignite his rivalry with Arsenal in the second Premier League game back after the international break.

The two teams meet at the Emirates on September 21 with City looking to win their first top-flight match against Arsenal since the 2022/23 season.