KEY POINTS

  • Liverpool won two trophies last season
  • The Reds also finished runners-up in two other tournaments
  • Ralf Rangnick replaced Solskjaer as Man Utd's interim boss last year

Ralf Rangnick reveals Manchester United had turned down his suggestion to sign Luis Diaz and Erling Haaland in the 2022 winter window.

Manchester United signed Rangnick as their interim boss in November after sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Known for his significant contribution to the Red Bull empire, the move to bring in Rangnick was considered a good one.

While Rangnick was initially expected to become Manchester United's consultant at the end of the 2021-22 season, the German boss left the club in less than seven months and became the head coach of the Austrian national team.

Throughout his stay at Old Trafford, Rangnick continuously asked the board to allow him to make signings to rebuild the side as the post-Alex Ferguson problems still prevailed in the team.

In a new interview, Rangnick revealed he had made as many as six transfer recommendations but only to be rejected.

"It was clear to everyone that there was a need in many areas. That's why we were already discussing players like Josko Gvardiol and Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. Those were names that were realistic. We also talked about Alvaro Morata, Luis Diaz, Dusan Vlahovic and, as I said, Haaland when they were still on the market. But the club decided at that time to rebuild the team under the new coach," Rangnick told German outlet BILD, reported Yahoo Sports.

While Gvardiol and Nkunku have both been linked with a move to Chelsea in 2023, Diaz and Haaland are already in the Premier League and are direct rivals to Manchester United.

Haaland, who moved from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City this summer, netted a hat-trick in his side's 6-3 win over Manchester United in the Premier League earlier this month. The Norwegian striker has had a flying start to his life in Manchester, having scored 22 goals in his first 16 games for Pep Guardiola's side.

Luis Diaz (right) scored his first Liverpool goal in a 3-1 win over Norwich
Luis Diaz (right) moved from Porto to Liverpool in January 2022 AFP / Oli SCARFF

Diaz, meanwhile, played a crucial role for Liverpool, helping the side clinch two trophies and finish runners-up in two other competitions last season. The Colombian forward, who moved from Porto to Liverpool at $45 million, scored six goals and provided five assists in 26 appearances for Liverpool last campaign. He had also scored a goal and assisted one in Liverpool's 4-0 win over Manchester United in April at Anfield.

Soccer