Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that Manchester United could have signed Erling Haaland for just £4million, but his recommendation was ignored by the club.
Solskjaer had worked with a young Haaland during his time in charge of Molde. The Norwegian came through his first season with just four goals but burst onto the scene in 2018 with 12 goals in 25 Eliteserien appearances, including four in 21 minutes.
Haaland's form that year inevitably alerted clubs across Europe, but Solskjaer seemingly wanted to give his former club a heads-up before others across the continent circled.
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“I called United about six months before I took over and told them that I’d got this striker that we had but they didn’t listen," said Solskjaer, as quoted by The Athletic. "I asked for £4million for Haaland but they didn’t sign him.”
Haaland ended up joining RB Salzburg and scored 16 goals in 14 league appearances in the 2019/20 season before Borussia Dortmund swooped in for around €20million.
His amazing form in Germany saw the striker courted by Manchester City, who activated his £51million release clause last summer. The 22-year-old has blown everyone away this season with 51 goals in 47 games.
United have been desperate for a goalscorer this season and Erik ten Hag will prioritise a world-class No.9 this summer. Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen are among those to have been earmarked as targets.
Both will likely cost more than £100million this summer, however, with that missed opportunity for a bargain signing looking more painful with each goal he scores.
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