Everton striker Josh King says he is “not so bitter” anymore about the collapse of a move to Man Utd but admits he was “disappointed that it did not go through”.
The Toffees sought to boost their striking options on deadline day of the January transfer window as they beat Fulham with a late move to sign King from Bournemouth.
Everton needed back-up for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison with King signing until the end of the season for what the club called “a nominal fee”.
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King had looked likely to leave Bournemouth in January 2020 with Man Utd interested, but the deal fell through on deadline day.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer coached King during his time as Under-23s coach at Old Trafford and the Man Utd boss is said to have made an attempt to being the Norway forward back to the club.
The Daily Telegraph reported at the time that United’s enquiry was not considered by the Cherries, who were still in the Premier League at the time.
And now King has spoken to Norway television about the collapsed move and said it would’ve been “fun” to return to Man Utd.
“Of course, it was frustrating. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world and it would have been fun to go back where it all started in England,” King told TV2.
“But that’s life as a football player. You are under contract and you cannot choose to go whenever you want, you have to be bought out. It did not happen. I’m not so bitter now, but when it happened, I was quite disappointed that it did not go through.”
One striker who is now flourishing under Solskjaer is Mason Greenwood, who replaced Wayne Rooney as United’s top-scoring teenager in Premier League history on Sunday.
The 19-year-old’s turn and strike put the Red Devils ahead at Villa Park in their 3-1 victory over Aston Villa, where he was withdrawn in the 65th minute – perhaps hinting at involvement against Leicester City.
“I can say that Mason is learning all the time,” Solskjaer said. “He’s learning on the job, which is not easy.
“It’s difficult and he’s had to bear a lot of responsibility and he’s popped up with so many important goals for us.
“Say Thursday night, worked his socks off, go again (against Villa).
“Yeah, he’s tired, his body is not really filled out yet and he might not be ready for all of these games but he’s got something special.
“The kid just turns the game around in one split second and the goal today was excellent, so delighted that he’s got back to his goalscoring best and he’s learning more and more all the other bits as well.”
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