Manchester United's new director of football John Murtough was allegedly involved in a mix-up that caused the Red Devils to miss out on signing Erling Braut Haaland in 2018.

The Borussia Dortmund man is one of the most sought-after players in world football, but he was already attracting interest from top European clubs while plying his trade in his native Norway during his teenage years.

Haaland spent two years at Molde before completing a move to Red Bull Salzburg in 2019, but United were supposedly in pole position to complete a deal for the striker before a farcical time zone mix-up.

According to Football Insider, Murtough was due to ring Haaland's former agent Jim Solbakken in August 2018 to finalise a £3m move, but the United chief rang at 9am UK time rather than 9am Norwegian time, which is what Molde were expecting.

With Scandinavia an hour ahead in time zones, the report claims that Salzburg had indeed called at 9am Norwegian time and got a deal over the line before United made contact later in the morning.

After comically missing out on the 20-year-old for a minimal fee nearly three years ago, it would likely take a bid in excess of over £100m if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is to land his compatriot in the summer transfer window.