Gary Neville would rather bring Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland to Manchester United than Mohamed Salah, amid the trio’s stunning recent records.
Each player has been in the conversation alongside Robert Lewandowski over being the best player in the world. Liverpool star Salah has flown the flag for the Premier League and English football. The Egyptian has hit 27 goals in 34 games this term.
Borussia Dortmund hitman Haaland has suffered injuries this season. Nevertheless, he has still managed 16 goals in 14 Bundesliga games and 80 in 79 since his arrival in Germany.
Mbappe, meanwhile, has hit 24 goals in his 34 Paris Saint-Germain outings this campaign.
Assessing Man Utd’s priority transfer mission for a new striker, Neville had his say on the three players. The Red Devils brought Cristiano Ronaldo back last summer. The 37-year-old has scored over 800 career goals, including over 120 at United. But while he has had a big impact back at Old Trafford, he is approaching the end of his career.
Neville told Sky Sports: “At times earlier in the season, Salah was at a level that was the best in the world, and he still could be.
“But if you said to me I could sign one player for Manchester United tomorrow, I would still probably go for Mbappe or Haaland over Salah.
“It’s not a Liverpool thing. I think Salah is absolutely amazing, but I just think Mbappe has got the ability to be out-of-this-world special.
“There is no doubt Salah is world class, but Mbappe has got something different, that edge, something that is that good, it could make him one of the true greats.”
Salah’s form has created intense debate over his Liverpool future. His contract runs out next summer and it remains unclear if the Reds will spend big to keep him.
Meanwhile, Mbappe’s PSG deal expires at the end of this season. Still, he is unlikely to be a free agent for too long – if at all. Real Madrid are looking to snap him up.
Haaland is, for now, focusing on staying injury free amid bad luck on that front of late. However, Man Utd and Manchester City both reportedly have transfer interest in him.
Neville even branded the Norwegian the ‘modern-day Eric Cantona’ in his assessment of the striker.
Gary Neville questions Mbappe, Haaland dynasty
Neville added that Mbappe and Haaland have quickly earned comparisons to the rivalry between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
However, the pundit insisted that the PSG and Dortmund pair will not match or eclipse the other great goalscorers.
“Haaland and Mbappe are two young players who are massively talented,” Neville said.
“They can become the best in the world and achieve great things, but we shouldn’t think every new, young superstar will automatically take over from Ronaldo and Messi, who are the kind of players you’d be lucky to see once every 80 years.”
Indeed, Ronaldo and Messi have set the bar by winning 11 Ballon d’Or crowns between them.
In that sense, Mbappe and Haaland have a long way to go to match those that have gone before.
The post ‘It’s not a Liverpool thing’ – Gary Neville ditches Salah as dream Man Utd signing for ‘modern Cantona’ appeared first on TEAMtalk.
