I was devastated at what happened with Man United – it was my dream

The forward was the subject of multiple failed bids from United in 2020 before they eventually pivoted to Odion Ighalo. Norway international King began his career at Old Trafford after signing with the club as a 16-year-old.

His Premier League break came with Bournemouth, where he scored 53 goals in 184 appearances. King shared his exasperation with how his potential transfer was handled at the Vitality Stadium, revealing how devastated he was not to achieve a return to United, then under his compatriot Ole Gunner Solskjaer.

It was reported that Bournemouth's demands were considered too high after United were said to have had a £25million bid rebuffed.

"The dream was to play for United," King said in March 2025, via VG. "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 £25m. He (then-Bournemouth head coach Eddie Howe) said: 'Joshua, I won’t stand in your way, but the club wants x number of millions'.

"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's irritation contributed to his determination to leave the Cherries. The 34-year-old said he was unsure if it was the club's hierarchy or Howe who put the brakes on his switch to United.

"I don’t know if it came from Eddie or if it came from the club," he said. "But it came from somewhere. And that was part of the reason why I wanted to leave Bournemouth and try a new chapter."

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After being denied his opportunity to leave in January 2020, 12 months later, with the south coast side in the Championship, King left for Everton. His time with the Toffees was followed by spells at Watford, Fenerbahce, and Toulouse. King now plays for Al-Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League.

The man who filled King's boots at Old Trafford, Ighalo, ultimately arrived at Old Trafford on loan from Shanghai Shenhua, three years after departing Watford.

The Nigerian scored five goals in 19 appearances but failed to find the net in the Premier League in 12 months at the club and was limited to just one league appearance in the first half of the 2020/21 season.

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