Joshua King has reflected on his failed 2020 transfer back to Manchester United during a period when the club was desperate for a striker under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Manchester United have had a turbulent time with strikers in recent years, with players such as Wout Weghorst, Rasmus Højlund and Cristiano Ronaldo being three examples of players with mixed plaudits.
Even now, the number nine position is still something the club will be looking to sure up, with players such as Viktor Gyökeres and Isak on the forefront of most fans fantasy shopping lists this summer.
One player who could’ve been added to the list of attacking options was former Bournemouth attacker Josh King, who was the subject of a number of bids by United back in 2020 when he was still at The Cherries.
King, a former Carrington graduate who departed United in 2013, was keen for the move to take place, but ultimately the transfer never ended up happening.
No return of the King
The Norwegian international recently revealed on NRK’s Bakrommet podcast that he was “completely devastated” when the move didn’t go through.
As told by VG, the striker said, “The dream was to play for United. Now, United are struggling with a striker. They have a Norwegian coach who is interested. Put an offer on the table, and I came there for free. And then you say no to £25 million.
“He (Eddie Howe) said: Joshua, I won’t stand in your way, but the club wants x number of millions.”
The Norwegian also revealed his reaction when he realised United had gone for Odion Ighalo instead.
“I just sat in the jacuzzi for two or three hours waiting for the phone. I called Jim [Solbakken, his agent], who was working on that deal. And then I remember reading ‘Ighalo ready for United’. Then, I was completely devastated. Then I was way down.”
King eventually moved on
The 33-year-old also admitted that he still doesn’t know how the move didn’t go through, but this prompted him to leave the South Coast side.
“I don’t know if it came from Eddie or if it came from the club. But it came from somewhere. And that was part of the reason why I wanted to leave Bournemouth and try a new chapter.”
He did eventually get a move away from Bournemouth, with a deadline day transfer 12 months later to fellow North-West club Everton.
Following on from this, King has had spells at Watford and Fernebahce, before joining French side Toulouse in 2024 where he remains today.
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