.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,800&ssl=1 "Josh King talks of his heartbreak as his £25m Man United Move Fell Through")
Former Bournemouth talisman, Josh King, has candidly spoken about the collapse of his dream move to Manchester United during the January 2020 transfer window, revealing the devastating impact it had on his career.
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The Norwegian international, who enjoyed his most prolific Premier League season by netting 16 goals during the 2016/17 campaign, had caught the eye of numerous top clubs. However, it was Manchester United’s interest in the 2019/20 season that took many by surprise, given King’s relatively subdued form at the time.
Despite this, United had shown a willingness to bring King back to Old Trafford, where he originally signed as a teenager. The Red Devils tabled a £25 million bid for the forward, yet Bournemouth ultimately turned it down, opting instead to sign Odion Ighalo on loan.
In a candid revelation on NRK’s Bakrommet podcast, Josh King described the breakdown of the transfer as a bitter pill to swallow, stating, “The dream was to play for United. It was a chance to reunite with a club where it all began for me. United had a Norwegian manager interested, but in the end, they said no to £25m for me.”
Journalist David Ornstein reported at the time that King felt wronged by the whole affair, which left him feeling ‘used and messed about’. There were high hopes that a resolution would be reached, with King and Bournemouth expecting Manchester United to improve their offer. However, the follow-up never materialised, and King was ultimately left out in the cold.
Reflecting on the signing of Ighalo instead, King recalled his emotional turmoil, saying, “I just sat in the jacuzzi for two or three hours waiting for the phone. When I saw the news about Ighalo joining, I was completely devastated.”
The ordeal left King feeling disenfranchised and eager to seek pastures new, away from the south coast club. He remarked, “That was part of the reason why I wanted to leave Bournemouth and try a new chapter.”
Now plying his trade at Toulouse in France, King has moved on professionally but the pang of regret over the missed opportunity at Manchester United is a memory that lingers still.
Do you think Josh King would have made an impact at Manchester United?
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