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Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was told by European wonderkid he'd make transfer
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was personally told by Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Erling Haaland he'd seal a move to Old Trafford, according to reports. However, the 19-year-old ended up moving to the Bundesliga instead.
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Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was personally told by Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Erling Haaland he’d seal a move to Old Trafford, according to reports. However, the 19-year-old ended up moving to the Bundesliga instead.
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had hoped to bring Haaland to Old Trafford this month, having watched the teenager flourish at Red Bull Salzburg.
The forward hit 22 goals from 28 appearances for the Austrian Bundesliga side before moving to Borussia Dortmund instead.
And the Telegraph say Solskjaer was personally told by Haaland that he’d seal a move to the club.
The United manager jetted out to see the 19-year-old, who he managed during his time in Norway with Molde.
He had decided to pursue Haaland amid the inconsistency of Anthony Martial, who continues to blow hot and cold.
But then he was dealt a blow when the Norway international ended up moving to Dortmund instead.
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United have now, though, got their first signing in the bag.
Sporting Lisbon star Bruno Fernandes is set to complete his move to the club before the transfer window shuts on Friday night (11pm).
Haaland, meanwhile, has been in lightning form for Dortmund since his arrival.
He struck a hat-trick on his debut, coming off the bench to inspire a stunning comeback win over Augsburg.
And then followed that up with a brace against FC Koln in a 5-1 thumping last Friday.
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Former Dortmund favourite Steffen Freund has landed the teenager for his bright start to life at the Westfalenstadion.
"He already looks like the new wonder boy [of the club],” he said.
"If he only plays for a few minutes [per match] and continues to cause such a sensation, then he'll break the Bundesliga when he gets around to starting."
With United missing out on Haaland, they still hope to sign a striker.
The club will be without Marcus Rashford for the next three months with the England international sidelined with a double back fracture.
Several players have been linked - but some appear more realistic than others.
PSG star Edinson Cavani was enquired about yet the Red Devils think he’d rather leave the Ligue 1 titans for Atletico Madrid instead.
AC Milan hitman Krzysztof Piatek has also been linked but Tottenham seem to be frontrunners in that race.
Odion Ighalo has emerged as shock target having previously shined in England with Watford.
And so too has Islam Slimani, who is determined to cut his loan spell at Monaco short in order to return to the Premier League.