The New Solskjaer On His Way

Back in 1996, a young, unknown Norwegian arrived at Old Trafford with a face like a kid's and with a name that left every journalist scratching their heads when trying to spell it.

Twelve years later Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is rightly considered a United legend and his successor is now reportedly on the way with similar qualities to our assassin.

Mohammed Abdellaoue's name, nearly unspellable though, does not suggest Scandinavian origins but he's in fact Norwegian though born from Morrocan parents. He recently helped Valerenga to win the Norwegian Cup final and he's supposed to be a deadly finisher.

The deal is not certain yet but it looks like that only the final touches need to be done.

'We can't comment on anything before we have anything formalised,' Valerenga director Pal Breen told Verdens Gang.

The player's personal advisor Erik Moe also refused to comment on the United offer.

So, there is contact, definitely, and the 23-year-old striker might be on his way, totally wrecking Manucho's chances if he had any. Reportedly it was Jim Solbakken who helped engineer the move. You don't know the name? He's the agent of the coach of our reserve team, a certain Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Oh, another thing. I hate this 'new XY' tag, just think about the countless new Maradonas having come out of Argentina. Even we have one but he's not much like Diego... But in this case it's so inviting: difficult name, Norwegian, about the same age as Ole was in 1996... we'll see.

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