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Man Utd stars' verdict on Dominic Calvert-Lewin as £50m Everton transfer raid plotted
Manchester United were looking to sign a top striker in the January transfer window.
Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a talent says Andy Gray
Manchester United stars reportedly have no issues with the club making a move to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the Everton striker was targeted before Odion Ighalo rocked up at the end of the January transfer window. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was desperate to bring in a striker in January, particularly after Marcus Rashford suffered a back injury.
After selling Romelu Lukaku last summer, United failed to bring in a replacement.
That gave Mason Greenwood the opportunity to break into the first team with the teenager proving a success.
But with the club battling to finish in the top four, United were planning on bringing in a top striker in January to help the load on the current front players.
Erling Haaland was their top target heading into the New Year with Solskjaer having close ties to the Norway international.
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But United ended up pulling out of negotiations due to financial demands from the player's agent and father.
Bruno Fernandes then became their sole target and a deal proved difficult to get over the line with Sporting Lisbon refusing to budge from their valuation.
Eventually a transfer was agreed a few days before the January deadline, leaving United with little time to make a move for a striker.
Josh King emerged as a top target, but Bournemouth's asking price proved too high for United.
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The Red Devils eventually settled on signing Ighalo on a short-term loan deal until the end of the season.
But The Athletic report United had a vested interest in prising away Calvert-Lewin from Everton.
Several United players are said to rate the 22-year-old highly.
It is claimed though Everton would have been reluctant to sell with a new contract likely to be signed.
Calvert-Lewin had come under fire in recent years for a lack of goals since breaking through at Everton.
But he has come alive this season, in particular under Duncan Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti.
He has scored 10 Premier League goals this season, with two coming in his previous two appearances.