Back in August, Manchester United were linked with a deal for Norwegian talent Jens Petter Hauge.
Newspaper Dagbladet reported United dispatched senior scout Tommy Møller Nielsen to watch Hauge in action.
Hauge scored 14 goals in 18 games for Bodo/Glint from the left wing and was available at a bargain fee.
Quizzed about United’s interest he said: “When a club like Manchester United comes on the scene, it will always be interesting.”
AC Milan bagged a bargain
United did not follow through on the interest, and this looks like it was a missed opportunity.
Hauge signed for AC Milan for a fee of just £3.5 million, a bargain even by late-90s standards let alone 2020.
The 21-year-old has impressed, scoring three goals in three Europa League starts for Milan, including this one last night. (NB. spot the assist from United loanee Diogo Dalot too).
Hauge also has a Serie A goal to his name too and has made a very bright start to life in Italy.
For such a cheap fee, and having done the legwork of scouting him, United might have blown this one.
The club even had an inside track on a potential deal, with Hauge represented by the same agency which has Odion Ighalo on the books.
His goal record may be easy to dismiss on the basis of the strength of the Norwegian league, but he has continued his impressive form in Italy.
United did sign two wingers instead, Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo.
However, both players are right sided wingers and Hauge plays on the left.
It would have been an inconsequential fee to take a punt on Hauge too, for half the price United paid for Pellistri.
Hauge was praised by Dalot after his team’s Thursday night win, with the United loanee quoted by Milan News saying: “He is a great signing for Milan.”
The missed opportunity may not directly affect United right now, however, if we get drawn against AC Milan in the Europa League at any point, then this apparent transfer blunder might come back to bite United.
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