(Football news) The agent of RB Salzburg striker Karim Adeyemi confirmed that Manchester United failed with a last-ditch £33million bid to sign German international Karim Adeyemi. The 20-year-old has scored 23 goals in 42 goals for Salzburg this season and saw him earn an international call-up with the German national side. He is set to replace Erling Haaland who will join Manchester City next season and Adeyemi has big boots to fill.

Erik ten Hag is keen on signing at least one young striker this summer, with Edinson Cavani set to leave on a free transfer and Anthony Martial also possibly leaving. There is also doubt over Mason Greenwood’s playing future following his impending case. Ralf Rangnick is working with the board to decide on targets for next season and had targeted the 20 year old from RB Salzburg. The German’s knowledge of the Red Bull franchise means he was  well aware of Adeyemi’s potential skill set. However, Adeyemi’s agent confirmed that Manchester United’s offer came too late as the forward has already reached a pre-agreement to join Dortmund.

Adeyemi has been used on the left wing due to his pace a few times this season, but the young German prefers playing through the middle of the pitch as he has the instinctive goal scoring ability and creates goals in equal measure. He was born in Munich and worked his way up the TSV Forstenried’s youth system until local giants Bayern Munich scouted him and picked him up in 2010. Adeyemi would have still been at Bayern, if not for a breakdown in contract negotiations, resulting in the player leaving for SpVgg Unterhaching, where he spent six years before he joined Red Bull Salzburg in 2018.

The forward initially spent his first season at the Austrian club out on loan at FC Liefering, where he had a stellar season for a 16 year old as he hit the ground running with six goals and four assists in 20 games in the Austrian second flight. Adeyemi spent the next two seasons jumping between loan moves at the FC Liefering and sporadic spells in RB Salzburg’s first team. He leaves RB Salzburg after scoring 32 goals and providing 23 assists in just 92 games across all competitions.

Kehl told the reporters when asked about Adeyemi: “I said last week that I had a very good gut feeling, and that feeling has gotten even better over the week. I think we are on the right track.”

“We're now close to completing the deal with Borussia Dortmund, There will be no release clause included into his five year deal” said Thomas Solomon

Also read: Erling Haaland set to join Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund