Ashton's cheeky bid to sign City superstar Haaland goes viral

Superstar Erling Haaland pictured during his Borussia Dortmund playing days last season

Social media has gone crazy this last 24 hours after news emerged of tiny Ashton United FC's cheeky bid to sign Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland.

Semi-professional outfit Ashton, who play in the Northern Premier League, announced the bid to sign Haaland yesterday (Monday) because he will not be involved in the forthcoming World Cup tournament in Qatar as he is Norwegian.

An official Ashton United club statement read: "We can confirm that the club has submitted a 28-day loan approach for Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. 

"With the current Premier League champions not in action until late December due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Robins have reached out to our neighbours at the Ethiad in order to keep Haaland’s match fitness with him not being involved in Qatar."

Speaking to ashtonunited.co.uk after Saturday’s defeat to Gainsborough Trinity, Robins’ manager Michael Clegg said: “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.” 

The Twitter post accompanying the Ashton statement has so far been re-Tweeted 13,300 times and liked more than 111,000 times.

In subsequent posts, the club has Tweeted: "It’s no hoax guys, we are waiting on the response!" and "It appears that our website has crashed…anyone any ideas why?"

Ashton and Failsworth MP Angela Rayner has certainly backed Ashton's bid to land Haaland.

She Tweeted: "Come on @ManCity, you know it makes sense and @ErlingHaaland - the fans are the best at my local club."

Sky Sports have got in on the act, posting: "Non-League Ashton United claim to have made a cheeky bid to sign Erling Haaland on loan from Manchester City during the World Cup."

Haaland has already scored 18 Premier League goals for City this season, since joining them from German side Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

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