Transfer news: Cardiff confirm second signing with 18-year-old Mats Moller Daehli turning down a Manchester United return

Daehli left United to join Molde last season but wanted to stay with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a move to Wales

Mats Moller Daehli has joined Cardiff City having left Manchester United last year (GETTY IMAGES)

Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made his second signing in the space of a week after confirming the arrival of Mats Moller Daehli from Molde.

Solskjaer had already brought in Magnus Wolff Eikrem from Heerenveen and 18-year-old Norway international Daehli becomes the latest addition.

The Cardiff boss did not reveal how much the teenager had cost, but explained Daehli rejected the chance to return to Manchester United, who had the chance to buy him back after selling him to Molde last summer.

Solskjaer said: "I am pleased to announce we have signed Mats from Molde, we had some competition and I'm glad to say he has chosen to come to Cardiff instead of going back to where he was before.

"He had talks with United, they had the option to bring him back as part of the deal with Molde but he has decided to come here and that shows his desire to do well here."

Solskjaer believes Daehli can become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, and revealed he had been a target for his predecessor Malky Mackay.

"He is an outstanding talent. He wil be 19 in March, he has just made his debut for Norway so he will give us energy, enthusiasm and good ball control," he said.

"I don't want to liken him to too many players and put pressure on him but he is a central midfielder, he likes to work between the lines and take people on. He is a player of the future. You see the Samir Nasris and David Silvas, in a few years you never know where Mats might end up."

He added: "I know about Mats and all the scouting reports here said to sign Mats Daehli. He has been scouted by the club before and they would have gone in for him anyway apparently.

"They had been watching him before, they went to the Norwegian cup final, they had seen him a few times, but obviously I did not need to go and watch him as I had worked with him close up."

Daehli put his decision to join the south Wales club down to the chance to continue working with Solskjaer after their time together at Molde.

"Of course it was difficult to say no to Manchester United," he said. "I had good years there but I wanted to play for this manager. He said he wanted to take me here. I am delighted to sign and I want to help the team."

PA