Man City and Erling Haaland have given Manchester United another brutal reality check

The summer transfer window hasn't even opened and it already feels as though Manchester United have some catching up to do if they are really to upset the apple cart next season.

Confirmation of Erling Haaland's move to Manchester City was another reminder of the power shift which has taken place over the past decade on United's own doorstep, and confirmation of their nearest rival's rising stature in the game.

United might well have the greater history, but it counts for little when the present is so bleak, and whether they like it or not, City are a rising force with greater appeal to the modern football fan.

READ MORE HERE: Erling Haaland could still leave a transfer impact at Manchester United

Haaland, 21, wasn't even a teenager when United last won the Premier League, and the harsh reality is that many young players now simply won't associate the Old Trafford club with success or silverware.

Ever since he burst onto the scene at Molde, the emphasis for Haaland has always been on the project other teams could offer. Instead of chasing the biggest name or the biggest paycheck, he has always wanted to take a carefully considered next step. That's why he rejected United.

He could have joined Leeds back in 2018, but instead saw a greater chance of success if he joined RB Salzburg instead. It was this same long-term thinking which saw him choose Dortmund over Old Trafford when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sought a reunion with his former striker two years ago.

United sources insisted their cautious approach was in part due to the fact that the player's representatives wanted a share of any future sale and were adamant about a release clause being included in the deal, though it was clear Haaland's camp merely saw United as a