Solskjaer says Man Utd tried to sign five players, including Rice, but failed.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed he wanted to sign five key players during his tenure at Manchester United, including Declan Rice.

The club legend's two year reign ended with a series of disappointing results, despite the club's ability to recruit some high-profile players like Cristiano Ronaldo.

Unfortunately, several world-class stars slipped through Manchester United's net, and have since gone on to join rival clubs.

Solskjaer spoke to The Athletic, and when asked if the job was impossible due to the financial restrictions and rival teams' spending power, he said:

"No, but it’s difficult, especially for managers following one of the best managers ever. The expectations are very high but we can’t live in the same era as when I played."

He went on to reveal the five players he had requested the club try and sign, which included Erling Haaland, Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.

Solskjaer was particularly frustrated by the fact that the club were unable to sign Rice, noting: "We discussed Moises Caicedo, but we felt we needed players ready for there and then. Brighton are very good at letting players come from abroad and find their feet for a year and a half. At United, you don’t have that luxury and that has cost the club loads of players."

He then added: "We wanted Jude Bellingham badly, he’s a Man United player, but I respect he chose Dortmund. That was probably sensible. But it’s why I respect Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Dan James and Jadon. Young players prepared to come into a team that wasn’t 100 per cent there like it was when I arrived."

Regarding Harry Kane, Solskjaer said: "I would have signed Kane every day of the week and my understanding was that he wanted to come. But the club didn’t have the budget with the financial constraints from Covid-19, there was no bottomless pit.”

Ultimately, Manchester United were only able to sign Danish youngster Rasmus Hojlund this summer, and had initially enquired about Brighton's Evan Ferguson, only to see their opening £50million bid ‘laughed off’ by the Seagulls.

It is clear Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had big ambitions for Manchester United, and it is a shame the club were unable to make his transfer targets a reality.

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