Ole Solskjaer has revealed for the first time that he told Manchester United to buy Erling Haaland for just £4million.

Solskjaer was manager of 51-goal Manchester City scorer Haaland during his time in charge of Molde, before he went on to sign for RB Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund.

But he could have been at United if they had listened to their former striker Solskjaer just before he became manager at Old Trafford himself in 2018.

Solskjaer said: “I called United about six months before I took over and told them that I’d got this striker that we had but they didn’t listen.

“I asked for £4million for Haaland but they didn’t sign him.”

He ended up going to City for £50million and is now rated as the world’s most valuable striker at £200million.

United have been desperate for a decent number nine despite Marcus Rashford scoring 29 goals this season mainly from the left flank.

Anthony Martial has flopped again and Wout Weghorst has not been up to it.

Meanwhile at City they have seen a player rewriting the record books, as Solskjaer told them he would.

Solskjaer was manager between 2018 and 2021 taking the club to five semi-finals, one final and a second place finish in the Premier League.

Yesterday, Haaland romped to the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year award with 82% of the vote.

That’s helped by him netting a landmark 35 Prem goals already.

City are one point clear of Arsenal with one game in hand as both face Sunday matches.

Pep Guardiola’s men go to Everton before the Gunners host Brighton.