Manchester United’s subpar transfer business can be summed up by one signing that was made in the “last five years,” according to ESPN reporter Mark Ogden.
The Red Devils have struggled to climb back to the top of the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, with United last lifting the league title in 2013.
Since Ferguson walked away from Old Trafford, United’s recruitment policy has been brought into question over the way in which major signings have been made.
Roma manager Jose Mourinho famously voiced his dissatisfaction at United‘s failure to land his key transfer targets during his spell at Old Trafford.
Louis van Gaal, much like Mourinho, was frustrated with the lack of signings and famously revealed his 10-man shortlist for transfers that he wanted at United.
United have seen success with the signing of players like Bruno Fernandes, but the Red Devils have struggled to bring in a steady flow of world-class talent to Old Trafford.
READ MORE: Alejandro Garnacho reacts to Altay Bayindir performance as Turkey beat Germany
Ogden speaks out on ‘honest’ United signing
Former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer completed the loan signing of Odion Ighalo from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua in 2020.
Ighalo, who is a boyhood United fan, was thrilled with the move and even agreed to take a pay cut in a bid to push through his deadline-day move to Old Trafford.
However, the loan signing for the 34-year-old Nigerian striker felt out of place for United and the Premier League club’s desire to sign players for the long term.
Speaking on ESPN, Ogden explained how United’s failure to sign Erling Haaland from RB Salzburg left Solskjaer with little choice but to make a move for Ighalo instead.
“Alexis, can I just say on Odion Ighalo, I think that this is the signing that sums up Man United over the last five years better than any other signing because a month earlier than that, they were sat in a room with Erling Haaland,” he said.
“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thought he’d had a deal agreed with Erling Haaland that they were going to get this striker in, a guy he knew from Molde, a kid he’d coached as a youngster who knew his dad.
“Everything was in United’s favour. He had a relationship with the father, with Erling himself and they missed out on Haaland to Borussia Dortmund because they wouldn’t accept a release clause in his contract and signed Odion Ighalo [instead].
“Now, Ighalo is an honest player, he did his best, but they went from Erling Haaland in December to Odion Ighalo in January. So [that] tells you everything about Man United over the last five years.”
Solskjaer wanted Haaland at United
United had agreed to extend Ighalo’s loan deal until January 2021, but the Nigeria international left Old Trafford around that time after a forgettable spell at the club.
Solskjaer’s relationship with Haaland at Norwegian side Molde made it feel that the former United boss would bring the player to Old Trafford.
However, United’s unwillingness to meet the demands over a release clause led to Borussia Dortmund swooping in and signing Haaland from Salzburg in 2020.
Haaland enjoyed a superb spell with Dortmund and established himself as one of Europe’s top strikers, with the Norway star moving to Manchester City in 2022.
The 23-year-old City striker was a top target for Solskjaer and United’s failure to sign him ahead of Dortmund has well and truly come back to haunt the club.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
