Non-league club make loan offer to Man City for Erling Haaland during World Cup

Ashton United, who play in the seventh tier of English football, have made an approach to take Erling Haaland on loan.

The Manchester City star is set for a month off whilst the World Cup is going on after Norway failed to quality for the tournament in Qatar. Haaland has taken the Premier League by storm, breaking numerous records and is on course to scoop the Golden Boot having already scored 18 times.

Now though the City marksman will have an extended period without any games and Ashton United claim "it just makes sense" to have Haaland join them at the Hurst Cross Stadium. Their stadium is only 6.5 miles from the Etihad, meaning the striker wouldn't have to travel far for games.

An official statement was posted to Ashton United's website in which manager Michael Clegg explained: "It just makes sense. City aren't playing, and we want to help by keeping Erling fit, it makes more sense than him playing golf for six weeks. We think he will be a great fit for us, and would slot in with our squad dynamic really well."

Ashton United, who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, are 11th in the table having only scored 23 goals all season - the same number Haaland has managed by himself in all competitions.

The audacious loan swoop will almost certainly fail with Pep Guardiola detailing Haaland's plans to head to Marbella. The 22-year-old has a property in the south of Spain and is set to enjoy some down time coupled with a few rounds of golf.

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The City boss said: "He will be in Marbella for sure, or in Norway. It depends on how he behaves in Marbella as to how good he is for the second half of the season. I'm pretty sure he will love to be at the World Cup and maybe the next one or Euros he will. But he has a house in Marbella go there, play golf, hopefully, he don't drink much, eat much and come back fit."

Haaland has been somewhat injury prone during periods of his career, notably at Borussia Dortmund, and City will be desperate to keep their forward wrapped in cotton wool given the way he has started his debut campaign in England.

The Norwegian is poised to resume his forward antics when the Premier League resumes in late December. The defending champions will take on Leeds on December 28 before facing Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United. Before all that City have been drawn against Liverpool the Carabao Cup on December 20, which could see a host of squad players feature.

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