Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believed Erling Haaland would become a Manchester United player, before the striker agreed a move to Borussia Dortmund.
The Manchester United manager held personal talks with his 19-year-old countryman and father Alf-Inge Haaland and left negotiations feeling confident that he would move to Old Trafford.
But the club’s hierarchy pulled out of a deal due to the exorbitant demands of Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola, who also represents Paul Pogba, and his father, and Dortmund secured a bargain £18million deal.
Solskjaer was desperate to land a striker in January and failing to sign Haaland is viewed as a major blow by the Manchester United manager.
Other options, including Everton’s £50m-rated attacker Dominic Calvert-Lewin are being tracked as alternatives.
Calvert-Lewin has scored eight goals in 13 Premier League starts this season and new Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for the England Under-21 international following his arrival at Goodison Park.
‘There are a lot of people who have eyes on him,’ he said after admitting he had been tracking his progress during his time as Napoli manager.
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