'Everton to go for Alexander Sorloth when they could've had Erling Haaland' - ex-employee
Everton's potential move for Alexander Sorloth this summer would be ironic considering they could have signed Erling Haaland.
That is the opinion of former senior Everton scout and the man who brought Haaland to Merseyside, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The now Manchester City striker was at Bryne at the time, and would later join Molde for a reported fee of just £85k after the Toffees opted against signing him.
Everton have lived to rue that decision and they could now be turning to a different Norwegian striker amid links to Sorloth.
The 30-year-old is ready to leave Atletico Madrid this summer and could reportedly be available for a fee in the region of £25million.
Sorloth scored 20 goals across all competitions last season and could be the finisher Everton are looking for.
Bryan King sees humour in Alexander Sorloth pursuit
On paper, Everton's decision to opt against signing Haaland may go down as one of the worst in footballing history.
The 25-year-old has scored 162 goals in 198 games for Man City since joining in 2022, firing them to two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Along with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, he is among the most valuable footballers on the planet.
In reality, however, it is unclear how his development would have progressed at Everton, and he is among hundreds of players deemed not quite good enough to join the academy.
Speaking to Football Insider, King asked: "Wouldn't it be funny if Everton went for Sorloth and 10 years ago they could have signed Haaland?
"I know that most of the academy's changed, but you know, football's about opinions and not everybody agrees.
"At the time the explanation was feasible, but when you think back and you see him now, the way he knocks people about, you know, people his size, he handles them like small children, doesn't he?"
Everton assessing several striker targets
Sorloth is not the only name being considered at Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer.
Liam Delap and Taty Castellanos are two other names that have been mentioned, although both will likely be more expensive than the Norwegian.
The position is one of priority for David Moyes, after neither Beto and Thierno Barry were able to find consistent form last season.
Everton will regret the Halaand decision but they will also regret many others, such is the nature of football.