Former England and Everton manager Sam Allardyce believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would have been saved from the sack if Manchester United had signed Erling Haaland last summer.
The Borussia Dortmund striker, who is expected to be at the centre of a transfer battle this summer, was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford as United looked to strengthen their options at the top end of the pitch.
Haaland, who remains a target for United, was the subject of interest from a wealth of clubs last year, but the impending activation of his release clause this summer means that those interested put their moves on hold.
United, of course, spent lavish amounts of money last summer, landing Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo, meaning it was not financially possible to sign Haaland because of their other imports and Dortmund's demands.
However, Allardyce believes had United gone all out to sign the Norwegian sensation, it would have prevented Solskjaer from being axed back in November.
"You're going to see the world's biggest transfer in the summer, financially, with Haaland," Allardyce told Genting Casino.
"We talk about the fact that Neymar was the biggest transfer. This one will go way above that in terms of the overall package – the agent’s fee, the player's salary and the transfer fee will be massive.
"Even though the transfer might not be that big, the overall package [will] – this lad is the youngest and one of the world's best centre-forwards at the moment.
"And Manchester United, I still think that, had they secured him, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would still be in the job.
"And why Manchester United decided to let him [Haaland] go has been mind-boggling for me ever since it happened. And Ole had worked with him.
"Allegedly, it came down to finance, then that is the biggest mistake that Manchester United – not Ole – made. I think Ole would still be in a job if he actually signed him."
Although United will find themselves involved in a fiercely contested battle to land Haaland's signature this summer, Allardyce believes the Old Trafford club has an advantage over the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
He added: "I think the best chance Manchester United have is based on the whole financial package, simply because Real Madrid and Barcelona haven’t got enough in the coffers at the moment.
"They have never been as skint as they are now."
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