Manchester United: Ed Woodward believed to have missed out on the ‘real deal’
Manchester United are claimed to have made a huge blunder.
The long-standing but unfruitful saga between Manchester United and Erling Braut Haaland is well-known to us. A highly-touted transfer target in the Norweigan teenager was that close to joining United last January.
A transfer saga — that enlightened the whole Manchester United fanbase and forced them to think about another exceptional arrival at ‘The Theater of Dreams’ — eventually went in vain, and the fans, who were super optimists following the breakout of the rumour, left empty-handed.
United were in dire need of a striker last winter. However, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the wheel, United faithful were certainly confident about cracking a deal for his Norwegian compatriot.
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The 6ft 3in individual was regarded as the hottest property in Europe. And it was only €20 million, Haaland’s staggeringly low release clause at RB Salzburg, one had to pay to lure the marksman from the Austrian Bundesliga.
United spent weeks after weeks in negotiations, talking to his agent Mino Raiola, trying to make the deal as financially narrow as possible. Ed Woodward — who is famously known for his wrong judgments regarding transfer-dealings and lack of football-knowledge — was again at the focal point of all the recurring talks.
Borussia Dortmund, who were the only team to join the race alongside Manchester United for Haaland, came up with a better deal. And with a slight influence from Raiola’s side, Haaland chose to snub the Red Devils and leaned towards a lucrative deal at Germany.
Manchester United’s former midfielder and legend Paul Scholes has aroused several questions over the club’s failure to land Haaland at Old Trafford last January. According to Scholes, Haaland could have been the missing piece in Solskjaer’s jigsaw.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live (via Daily Star), Scholes claimed:
"“Once the German football came back and I watched him properly, I thought, ‘Why did Manchester United not just pay whatever anybody wanted for him?’“He looks that good, he’s still young, and he’s an out-and-out goalscorer. He’s quick as well, he’s got real pace. He’s a big lad, he’s a presence, and he scores goals – and that’s priceless.“Looking back – and do you know what, he still might be available, who knows, in time – but United are going to have to pay big, big money for him. But so what? He looks the real deal.”"
Since moving to Germany, the Norweigan international has enjoyed a tremendous time, having scored 13 goals and racked up 3 assists from 15 appearances in Bundesliga this season.
On the other hand, United found Haaland’s replacement in former Watford striker Odion Ighalo, who has recently penned a contract extension after enjoying a brilliant start to his career at the red side of Manchester. He is now going to stay at the club beyond the end of the ongoing 2019-20 season.
Haaland currently has a release clause of £63 million in his Dortmund contract.
As Southampton coach manager Ralph Hasenhuttl once said, “If you want guarantees, buy a washing machine. In football, there are no guarantees.”
Should United be brave, they could secure the signing of Erling Haaland from the German side in the near future.
Next. Solskjaer makes important statement about transfers. dark
Would you give Haaland a try at Manchester United?