Man United ‘scout 6ft 5in centre back compared to Rodri as Harry Maguire’s long-term successor’ – but Red Devils ‘face competition from European heavyweights for versatile youngster’

Manchester United are reportedly scouting a dominant 6ft 5in Norwegian centre-back who could be Harry Maguire‘s long-term replacement.

With the 32-year-old entering the final year of his United contract, Ruben Amorim and United bosses are thought to have already begun looking for his successor.

The Red Devils sent scouts to look at Norwegian side Brann’s 20-year-old wonderkid Eivind Helland earlier this month as his side took on Viking Stavanger. 

The centre-half has been described as a commanding defender, whose dominance in aerial duals gives him a ‘strong presence’, according to former Premier League player Jan Age Fjortoft.

Likened to Ballon d’Or winner Rodri by his manager at the start of the season, Helland captained Norway’s Under-21s to a 4-0 victory over Wales in June.

But if United are to secure the youngster’s services, they’ll have to beat off competition from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. 

Just a couple of weeks after United scouts made the trip to Scandinavia, Bayern Munich followed suit, with German scouts watching Helland and his side lose 2-0 to KFUM in Oslo at the weekend. 

Borussia Dortmund and Red Bull Salzburg – two clubs with a reputation for discovering some of the continent’s best talent – are also keeping tabs on the situation, according to The Sun.

But United’s links to the Norwegian talent come after Ruben Amorim admitted the club need to be ‘careful’ about making signings, saying he would be happy to go into next season with the squad he’s assembled now. 

The former Sporting Lisbon manager’s first summer at the helm has so far seen United bolster their ranks with the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbuemo. 

But United fans will no-doubt want to see further additions, with the club’s eagerness to bring in a striker heavily rumoured. 

Amorim, however, said: ‘I think our club, in the moment, need to be really careful when we sign a player. So if we have to start the season with this squad, I’m happy. Because all the players that are here want to be here, and that for me is the most important thing. 

‘With Bryan and Matheus, we are clearly a better team. They can play as a striker. I’m really pleased because they proved that the goals they have. They are really humble, that is really important.

‘The best thing is that they chose to be here. They had other options, Champions League options. And they read everything people say about our club in the moment, but they chose to be here and that is a key point for me.

‘They have other players that are fighting for that position. We have Josh (Zirkzee), we have Rasmus (Hojlund), so our focus is to improve the connection between them. I don’t know if the positions are there for them. They have to work.’

The Red Devils were believed to have been interested in the highly-sought after Viktor Gyokeres, but the 27-year-old striker looks set to seal a move to Arsenal. 

United have too been linked with moves for Premier League-proven frontmen Ollie Watkins and Nicolas Jackson in recent weeks. 

And in a bid to replace the struggling Andre Onana, United made a loan move for Villa keeper Emi Martinez earlier this week. Unai Emery and club officials however rejected the proposal.