Ole Gunnar Solskjaer overruled by Ed Woodward and Glazer family in Man Utd transfer chase

Manchester United missed out on the signing of Jude Bellingham from Birmingham City.

The teenage star was pursued by the Red Devils, even being given a tour of their Carrington training ground and meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson.

But Bellingham opted to head to the Bundesliga and follow in Jadon Sancho’s footsteps by joining Borussia Dortmund to further his development.


ESPN have now claimed that United missed out on Bellingham after they refused to match his £56,000-a-week wage offer from Dortmund.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was reportedly ready to throw Bellingham straight into his first-team squad.

He predicted that the youngster, who played 44 times for Birmingham City last season, would make at least 20 first-team appearances next term.


But club owners the Glazer family and executive vice-chairman Woodward were unwilling to sanction the deal.

They did not feel comfortable shelling out almost £3million a year in wages on a player with just one year of senior football under his belt.

As a result, they decided against matching Dortmund’s offer and he headed to Germany.

The deal could rise to £22.75million if future clauses and add-ons are met.

Bellingham is already in training at his new club as they started pre-season this week.

After his move, the 17-year-old said: “I chose Borussia Dortmund because it is the perfect step for my development. I am just glad that saga is over.


“It was a lot of annoyance to me and there was a lot of noise around at the time when all I wanted to do was play for Birmingham City.

“Now I haven't got the chance to do that anymore but I would like to think I made the most of it. I am really looking forward to the future.

“The record Dortmund have got with young players in recent years is unrivalled in European football.


“Weighing all that up and the people we met there , the stadium and fanbase, it made me fall in love with that club as well.

“I've met Jadon Sancho and we have spoke. He is a great example of what you can achieve if you go out there and do the right things.
“It is a credit to himself and the work Dortmund do. I know if I work hard there will be chances and I will try and take them.”