Erling Haaland and Frenkie De Jong already doing battle - but not on the pitch

New Manchester soccer rivals Erling Haaland and Frenkie De Jong are already locking horns – over the keys to a new mansion.

City’s Haaland, 21, and United target De Jong, 25, have their eyes on the £3.5million eco pad being sold by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – a former player and, more recently, manager of the Reds.

And it looks like £51million Blues striker Haaland has got his foot in the door first.

A source said: “Both players have got their people looking. Ole has rented his place out in the past, but he moved back in when he got the United job.

“Now he’s left United it’s free again. De Jong’s team contacted Ole about renting the place, but he told them Haaland has got first option, if he wants it.”

Dutch midfielder De Jong is set to join United from Barcelona this week in a £70million deal.

Agents for Haaland, who like Solskjaer is Norwegian, have looked at at least another three properties, including the £3million home of Paul Pogba, who has just left United.

Solskjaer bought his four-acre plot in Nether Alderley, Cheshire, in 2007 and had the old moat house which stood there bulldozed.

In its place he had a glass and timber, five-bed eco-pad, complete with solar power and ground source heat pumps, built in its place. It also has ‘low volume flush systems’ in the toilets and heavy natural insulation.

As well as the green credentials it also boasts the footballers essentials of a gym, pool and a five-a-side pitch.

Liverpool ace Virgil Van Dijk is a former tenant of Solskjaer.

He lived there when he first moved north, but had to move out when Ole returned to manage United.