Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward reportedly set Bournemouth a 15-minute deadline to accept the transfer of Josh King last month.
Marcus Rashford is out for the foreseeable future, having picked up a back injury in their FA Cup win over Wolves.
And with Anthony Martial and 18-year-old Mason Greenwood then the only recognised strikers on the books at the time at Old Trafford, United were keen to sign King on transfer deadline day.
Woodward made contact with Neill Blake, Bournemouth’s chief executive, to make a final £25million bid.
But according to The Athletic, the United chief made quite the demand of his counterpart at Dean Court.
“You have 15 minutes to tell us whether you accept, or we’ll be signing a player from China,” Woodward is reported to have told Blake.
The 15 minutes elapsed as the Cherries weighed up the offer, with King - a former United trainee - ultimately remaining on the south coast.
King, meanwhile, was said to have been left feeling ‘used and messed about’ after failing to secure a return to United.
It's looking increasingly likely that the Norwegian striker will leave the Vitality in the summer.
The 28-year-old is tied to the club until 2021, while United eventually signed Odion Ighalo on a season-long loan from Shanghai Shenhua.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is pleased with his signing, telling reporters at Old Trafford: "He is a striker, has a physical presence and is a goalscorer so he will give us a lot.
"You would be thrilled when you have been a Manchester United supporter your whole life and you’ve been working your whole life.
"Being the top scorer in the African Cup of Nations tells you a lot about the qualities we are going to get.
"He’s a different type of striker. He’s a proven goalscorer, physical presence. It also gives us a chance to rest Mason Greenwood and to rest Anthony Martial at times with so many games coming up."
The Red Devils face Chelsea, who are six points clear of them in fourth on Monday night, with Ighalo set for a place on the substitutes' bench.
