INEOS has already secured Solskjaer’s new Haaland at Man Utd & it isn’t Sesko
The period following Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure at Manchester United is filled with moments of ‘what if’, particularly the choice not to chase after Norwegian talent, Erling Haaland. At only 25 years of age, the Manchester City forward is considered one of the top strikers in the world, amassing 150 goals in merely 173 matches at the Etihad, following 86 goals in 89 appearances at Borussia Dortmund. Renowned for his performance in crucial matches, Haaland has consistently bested United, and he aims to do so again in the upcoming derby, having scored eight goals in nine encounters with the Red Devils.
Whether it is influential or not, the prolific striker seems driven to expose the Old Trafford club’s past mistake regarding his signing, particularly since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s endorsement went unheard.
What Solskjaer has remarked about Man Utd’s Haaland oversight
Although an official decision hasn’t been made, it appears that Solskjaer will be at the helm for United’s clash against Pep Guardiola’s team next weekend, as he has emerged as the leading candidate to temporarily succeed Ruben Amorim.
Encouragingly, the Norwegian icon has a commendable record against Guardiola and City, having notably secured victories against the tactician in the Premier League in the 2019/20 season. However, that was prior to Haaland’s arrival in 2022, and Solskjaer must strategize effectively to counter his tireless compatriot next weekend, particularly after the forward’s brace in the previous encounter at the Etihad.
If there is anyone capable of potentially neutralizing Haaland, it would be his former Molde coach, as this connection is what prompted Solskjaer’s suggestion that United acquire the then-unknown teenager. The 1999 hero has expressed that he contacted his previous club to advocate for signing the promising forward and reiterated his wish for a deal when he took over as caretaker manager in 2018/19, while Haaland had transferred to Red Bull Salzburg.
“By the time I came in as caretaker, we (Molde) had sold him to Salzburg. I tell the club straight away: ‘Buy him.’ He had a release clause.
“No-one else then would have paid that money. It was 20m euros and it would have been a bargain. It was the club’s decision to not go for him then.”
£17m was the amount needed to lure the young talent from Austria, but Solskjaer’s counsel went unheeded, and the rest, as they say, became history.
Currently, the 52-year-old will seek to work his magic with United’s current attacking talent, and not just Benjamin Sesko.
Man Utd has already signed Solskjaer’s new Haaland
Fortunately for the incoming interim manager at Old Trafford, summer acquisition Sesko is back in the scoring form after netting a well-executed brace against Burnley.
A 22-year-old who has progressed through Austrian and German leagues, much like Haaland, the parallels can be drawn, although it remains uncertain if Solskjaer will take a liking to him. In fact, it was the teenage version of Haaland that Solskjaer managed at Molde, where the 6-foot-4 striker found the net 20 times across 50 matches under the Norwegian.
Haaland – 2018 League stats (Molde)
Stat (*per game)
Record
Games
25
Starts
17
Goals
12
Mins per goal
133
Goal conversion
21%
Big chances missed
11
Big chances created
2
Assists
4
Key passes*
0.7
Total duels won*
34%
Stats via Sofascore
A new teenage Scandinavian talent has already been signed by INEOS for Solskjaer to develop at Manchester, with Chido Obi clearly eager to return to the first team. Yet to make an appearance this season, the talented Dane has struggled to build on his eight senior matches from the previous term, after being highlighted by Amorim as one of the academy players who have faced challenges recently.
Such feedback was not well received by the United management, nor Obi himself, as the club is surely cautious about unsettling a player whose transfer from Arsenal was seen as an impressive acquisition in 2024.
Like Haaland, Obi showcases potential, even at his young age, with the 18-year-old being praised as a “goal machine” by analyst Ben Mattinson after scoring 32 goals in just 21 U18 contests for the Gunners, according to Transfermarkt.
A “10/10 talent,” according to scout Jacek Kulig, Obi has yet to find the back of the net at the senior level for United, although his opportunities have been minimal. Could that change under Solskjaer? The former Besiktas manager is evidently willing to trust young players, as he did with Haaland in Norway, and with limited genuine center-forward options available at Old Trafford, aside from Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee, it may be the perfect time to reintegrate Obi back into the setup.
The Red Devils missed their opportunity to acquire Haaland before his talents became widely recognized, but having acted swiftly to secure a new teenage striking talent, the club should start placing their confidence in him.
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Published: 2026-01-11 09:10:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
