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Erik ten Hag previews Aston Villa clash
Manchester United duo Erik ten Hag and John Murtough have reportedly agreed on Jude Bellingham being their top transfer target for next summer. The Borussia Dortmund star has been in fine form this season, scoring seven goals in the Bundesliga and Champions League combined. However, Liverpool also want the 19-year-old - and history suggests they’ll fancy their chances…
Manchester United came close to signing Bellingham back in the summer transfer window of 2020, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was manager.
They ended up missing out, however, with Dortmund luring the midfielder to the Westfalenstadion with the guarantee of regular first-team football.
United spent the whole of last summer chasing Frenkie de Jong, only to miss out, but were able to bring in both Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.
According to The Mirror, however, they’ve reignited their interest in Bellingham - with both Ten Hag and Murtough keen on the former Birmingham star.
Liverpool are also in the picture, though, with Jurgen Klopp’s side currently seen as the frontrunners when it comes to landing the England international.
Express Sport will now take a look at four players who have chosen the Reds over the Red Devils in recent years, with Bellingham potentially next.
Man Utd duo Erik ten Hag and John Murtough are in agreement over Jude Bellingham transfer (Image: GETTY)
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Back in the summer transfer window of 2015, United probed a deal for Roberto Firmino.
The Brazilian had been in fine form for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, netting 49 goals from 153 appearances for the German club.
Louis van Gaal was keen on Firmino as a result, at a time where he was looking for a new striker following the departures of Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie.
But, ultimately, the player ended up at Liverpool instead.
Though sometimes inconsistent in front of goal, he’s been a huge hit at Anfield in the years since - helping them win major honours such as the Premier League and Champions League.
After United missed out on Firmino, they set their sights on a deal for Pedro.
However, the Spain international opted to leave Barcelona for Chelsea instead - much to the frustration of Van Gaal.
United then moved to try and sign Sadio Mane yet, once again, were unsuccessful - with the attacker choosing to stay at Southampton for another year at the time.
He’d produced to join Liverpool for a fee of £34million 12 months later, penning a five-year deal.
And Mane was a dependable figure for Klopp at Anfield until he opted to pursue a new challenge with Bayern Munich at the end of last season.
Man Utd missed out on Liverpool heroes such as Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino (Image: GETTY)
Virgil van Dijk
Back in 2017, United needed another centre-back with Jose Mourinho looking to bolster that area of his squad.
He’d end up recruiting Victor Lindelof but, according to QPR striker Charlie Austin earlier in the year, the Red Devils turned down the chance to sign Virgil van Dijk.
Austin recalled: "I said to him 'come on, Virgil, what's going on, surely Manchester United must have been in for you?'
"They're a massive club in England. He said 'do you know what, Chaz, in the summer it was between me and Lindelof, and they went for Lindelof'.
"Nobody knows that. He told me on the bench and I couldn't believe it. I was gobsmacked."