Solskjaer rules out Joshua King move as Manchester United search for a striker
Bournemouth's Joshua King had been linked with a return to Old Trafford and Manchester United are believed to have a bid rejected for the former academy player.
Manchester United are unlikely to sign former player Joshua King from Bournemouth before tonight's transfer deadline, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed.
Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe suggested on Friday that King, who is currently out with a hamstring injury, could join United, who are looking for a temporary replacement for Marcus Rashford. Rashford is out with a double stress fracture to his back and isn't expected back until March. United are reported to have had an offer for King turned down by Bournemouth, who have problems of their own - the team is currently languishing third from bottom in the Premier League table on 23 points.
Joshua King's early days at United
Norway international Joshua King came through the youth ranks at United and made his first team debut against Wolves in the EFL Cup in 2009, but he only made one more senior appearance, in 2011, before leaving for Blackburn Rovers the following year.
Asked about the prospect of signing King on deadline day, Solskjaer said: "I don't think we'll do any more business, no, I don't think so."
The United boss said following a 1-0 EFL Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg victory over Manchester City – which was insufficient to book a place in the final as they went down 3-2 on aggregate – that he craved a forward who "wants to break their nose" to score.
"Mason [Greenwood] can break [his] nose as well, there's no worries about that. As I've said, January has always been difficult and it's not just something you do like that," Solskjaer explained. "I'm happy with the ones I've got here and of course with Bruno [Fernandes] coming in, that was a big thing for me, that we can play in a different way maybe.And of course with the centre-backs coming back and what we've done lately with three at the back, that might be an option to change tactically a little bit."
Marcus Rojo out on loan
Defender Marcos Rojo moved on loan to Estudiantes on Thursday and Solskjaer hopes the temporary switch can help galvanise his ailing United career. "Marcos is a lovely lad, fantastic. He's got the fire in his belly, he's a winner and he wasn't getting enough football here," said the United boss. "He was in the away end against City and Liverpool, he's such a passionate guy and wants to support his team and come back a fitter and better player, hopefully having played well at Estudiantes and helped Seba [Juan Sebastian Veron] at his club and getting to the Copa America. That was something we just had to do."