Non-league outfit Ashton United have presented Manchester City with a 28-day loan offer for Erling Haaland, to keep him playing through the World Cup.
Ashton United, a seventh-tier outfit on the English football pyramid, released a statement on November 14 confirming they had submitted an offer to City, requesting Haaland on loan for 28 days. No, really.
A statement released to the Northern Premier League club's website read: "Ashton United 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."
Club manager Michael Clegg added: “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.”
𝘾𝙇𝙐𝘽 𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙏𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏 - 𝙀𝙍𝙇𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙃𝘼𝘼𝙇𝘼𝙉𝘿#aufc can confirm that an approach has been made for @ManCity striker Erling Haaland.
— Ashton United FC (@AshtonUnitedFC) November 14, 2022
🔗https://t.co/VvWbpqdd0e#oneclub pic.twitter.com/8tzAq9o2Sy
Haaland will miss the World Cup with Norway having not qualified for the tournament in Qatar. And while he plans to take some time away on holiday during that period, The Robins - who play at Hurst Cross and are less than a 20-minute drive away from the Etihad Stadium - have offered him the chance to stay match fit - albeit most definitely in tongue-in-cheek fashion.
If City and Haaland were to somehow accept the offer, he would be available for a four-game stretch, missing a fifth due to international duty.
