Eikrem, centre, was signed by Solskjaer, right, but made just six appearances for Cardiff before leaving

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was accused of a conflict of interest after he signed three Norwegian players who were represented by his agent and close friend Jim Solbakken when he was the manager of Cardiff City in 2014.

Within days of his appointment, Solskjaer signed the midfielder Magnus Wolff Eikrem from Dutch club Heerenveen, swiftly followed by forward Jo Inge Berget and Mats Daehli, also a midfielder, from Molde, his former side.

All three were represented by Solbakken and followed Solskjaer out of the club after he was sacked eight months later after Cardiff had been relegated from the Premier League. Although Daehli made 22 league appearances for Cardiff, Berget made only one in the top flight and Eikrem six as the trio appeared to be