REVEALED 🚨5️⃣ Players that could have been Life time Game Changing for United,but the boards rejected it Solskjaer’s insane five-man shortlist that he gave to the club has emerged, but they didn’t listen! 🤯 All five players have now completed record-breaking moves 😳 The coaches were never the problem,but the owners and it has now been evident

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Dream Manchester United Signings That Never Happened

During his tenure as Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had ambitious plans to build a super-team, but the club ultimately failed to secure some of his biggest targets.

Solskjaer first took charge at Old Trafford as an interim manager in December 2018, following Jose Mourinho’s dismissal, before earning the job on a permanent basis. Across his 168 matches, he won 91 games with a 54% win percentage and guided United to the Europa League final in 2021.

While Solskjaer successfully signed key players such as Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Raphael Varane, he also had a shortlist of five marquee signings who could have transformed the team—but United failed to land them.

The Five Players Solskjaer Wanted at United

Solskjaer revealed in a 2023 interview with The Athletic that he pushed hard for these five key targets, believing they would have elevated the squad to new heights:

1. Erling Haaland – The Norwegian striker, who played under Solskjaer at Molde, was identified as a must-have talent long before he joined Manchester City.
2. Declan Rice – A dynamic midfielder who was available for significantly less than what Arsenal eventually paid for him.
3. Moises Caicedo – The Ecuadorian midfielder was on United’s radar but was overlooked due to concerns over his immediate readiness. He later joined Brighton before securing a record move to Chelsea.
4. Jude Bellingham – United pushed hard to sign him, even organizing a tour featuring Sir Alex Ferguson, Bryan Robson, and Eric Cantona, but Bellingham chose Borussia Dortmund for guaranteed game time.
5. Harry Kane – Solskjaer wanted the Tottenham striker “every day of the week,” but financial constraints due to Covid-19 prevented United from making a move.

Solskjaer’s Frustration Over Missed Opportunities

Reflecting on the missed transfers, Solskjaer expressed frustration over United’s inability to act decisively in the market.

On Erling Haaland:

“The summer before I got here, I told the club, ‘You’ve got to sign this boy—he’ll be top class.’ That was June/July 2018, but they said no. Then, as caretaker manager, I urged them again to buy him while he had a €20 million release clause. That was a bargain. But the club chose not to move.”

By the time United seriously pursued Haaland, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, and others had already entered the race, and the €60 million release clause made him unattainable.

On Jude Bellingham:

“He was in the building, had a tour, met Sir Alex, Bryan Robson, and Eric Cantona. But he wanted regular minutes, and I respect his decision to choose Dortmund.”

On Declan Rice:

“Rice was available for much less than what he cost Arsenal. We could have and should have signed him—he would have been a great fit in our midfield.”

On Harry Kane:

“I would have signed Kane every day of the week. My understanding was that he wanted to come, but the club didn’t have the budget due to Covid-19. There was no bottomless pit.”

Solskjaer’s Post-United Career

Following his United dismissal, Solskjaer took a break from football but is now making a strong comeback as head coach of Besiktas. Since taking charge in January, he has won four of his first six matches, looking to revive his managerial career.

While Solskjaer’s time at Manchester United had ups and downs, the failure to land his dream signings may have played a crucial role in the club falling short of silverware.