Aberdeen lost out on a potential £3million windfall from Ryan Fraser when the Scotland international failed to secure a move out of Bournemouth last week.
The Daily Record understands that a January-window inquiry was made on behalf of Manchester United, with the English Premier League club one of several in the division exploring the possibility of signing the 25-year-old winger last month.
Fraser joined Bournemouth in 2013 in a deal that entitled Aberdeen to 20 per-cent of any future transfer fee the south-coast club received for the Scot. With Fraser out of contract in the summer, Bournemouth were open to selling a player directly involved in 21 of their top-tier goals last season, for around £15m.
United's inquiry was handled by Jim Solbakken, a Norwegian player agent who also represents Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Under pressure to secure a Champions League berth from a season in which United have won just nine of their 25 Premier League matches to date, Solskjaer wanted his attack strengthened in the winter window.
As Friday's transfer deadline neared United elected to make a formal bid to Bournemouth for Fraser's team-mate Joshua King, offering £25m for the injured Norway international.
When Bournemouth rejected those offers, United switched their attention to Odion Ighalo, eventually agreeing a half-season loan deal with Shanghai Shenhua for the 30-year-old Nigeria centre-forward. King is a former client of Solbakken's, while Ighalo is represented by Atta Aneke, a business partner of his.
“Odion is an experienced player,” said Solskjaer. “He will come in and give us an option of a different type of centre-forward for the short spell he’s staying with us. A great lad and very professional, he will make the most of his time here.”
