‘I can confirm’: James Milner says £51m superstar once told him he was going to sign for Leeds

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James Milner has told Viaplay Fotball that Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland once told him he was going to sign for Leeds United.

Liverpool got back to winning ways in the Premier League yesterday with a massive win over City at Anfield. Mohamed Salah’s second-half goal proved to be the difference between the sides.

Haaland didn’t manage to get on the scoresheet for City yesterday but has taken the league by storm since making the £51.2 million switch from Borussia Dortmund over the summer (BBC).

The Norwegian striker has scored 15 goals in 10 Premier League appearances but Milner has revealed that Haaland could have been lining up for a different English side.

The prolific striker was known to be a boyhood Leeds fan and he told the Liverpool veteran that he would sign for the Whites.

Milner says Haaland once told him he was going to sign for Leeds

Speaking to Viaplay after yesterday’s game, Milner was asked: “I was sitting with Alfie Haaland [Elring Haaland’s father], he was my guest today. He said apparently Erling always when he plays against you he says ‘Leeds, Leeds, Leeds’. Can you confirm that?

“I can confirm that he said he was going to sign for Leeds a few years ago when we played against him,” Milner answered.

“He was obviously lying, so that’s disappointing [laughs].”

The reporter then asked: “Didn’t say anything about Leeds today?”

“We had a little chat, yeah.” Milner added.

Haaland has strong links to Elland Road after his dad played for Leeds between 1997 and 2000. Of course, Alfie Haaland also played for Manchester City so the striker has strong connections to his current side.

But it’s clear that the City striker has a soft spot for the Whites having seen his dad play in Yorkshire for three years.

Milner started his career at Elland Road and it’s interesting to hear that Haaland talks to the Liverpool veteran about Leeds.