Manchester United were linked with an array of players during Ralf Rangnick’s short stint as interim manager, but the German coach didn’t spend enough time at the club to have an influence on transfer strategy.
Brought in to stabilise the team after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked, Ralf Rangnick became interim manager in December 2021 with a view to taking the consultancy role at the end of the season.
United won 11 of their 29 matches under Rangnick, and his coaching methods were later questioned by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Red Devils were eliminated in the FA Cup third round and the Champions League Round of 16 before finishing sixth in the Premier League. Rangnick failed to implement his tactics, and there were heavy defeats on top of dressing room issues.
It was later decided that Rangnick would leave Old Trafford at the end of the season instead of taking up a consultancy role.
Amadou Haidara playing against Holstein Kiel
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Former Man Utd target Amadou Haidara headed to RC Lens
Rangnick was renowned for having an eye for talent, prompting plenty of excitement around his arrival at Old Trafford.
RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara was often linked to United as a versatile option who was admired by Rangnick. It was even suggested that the Malian midfielder was going to be Rangnick’s first signing at United – but that didn’t happen.
Three years on, Haidara is on the move from RB Leipzig to join RC Lens in Ligue 1 after the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
More United News
According to Fabrizio Romano, Haidara has already signed a contract with Lens until 2029.
Haidara hasn’t played a single match this season, and his contract is set to expire next summer.
There was a time, however, when Haidara was a regular at Leipzig. He has made 222 appearances for the Bundesliga club, scoring 15 goals and registering 13 assists.
It would be fair to say that Haidara didn’t quite reach the heights that Rangnick had for him when he was the caretaker boss.
Who is Manchester United’s best manager since Sir Alex Ferguson?
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
How much was Amadou Haidara worth?
In January 2022, when Haidara was believed to be on United’s radar, it was suggested in a report from Jeunes Footeux that the Mali international would cost £42 million to prise away from Leipzig.
Haidara’s value appeared to skyrocket amid interest from the Premier League, but he never got his big move away from the Bundesliga outfit. It didn’t help that he may have been priced out of a transfer after joining the club from RB Salzburg in January 2019.
Lens have signed Haidara three years later in a deal worth £2.6 million.
It’s a transfer that is low risk with potential high reward.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox