Three’s the magic number as United plan title charge
UNITED will look to make three more significant signings in an attempt to make them a competitive force again next season.
The Reds have enjoyed a resurgence of late, going on an unbeaten run of 10 games across all competitions - a sequence that has included two wins over City and a third victory of the campaign at Chelsea.
United occupy a Champions League qualifying spot in fifth, pending City’s appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a two-season ban from the competition, and are in the last 16 of the Europa League, with the first leg against LASK on Thursday, and the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s hit-rate in the transfer market has been impressive so far. Summer recruits Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Harry Maguire all started against City and winter addition Bruno Fernandes was talismanic again. Loanee Odion Ighalo has also had a productive impact, scoring three goals in seven appearances.
United have only finished in the top three of the Premier League once since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and are overseeing a squad rebuild with the intention of finally mounting a credible championship challenge.
“We feel we are improving all the time,” Solskjaer said. “And we know we lack one or two or three players and some experience - to be considered a title contender, we know that.
“And we are not going to start talking about [the title] now, we are going to talk about going up the table, getting more points, challenging for the top four. Chelsea and Leicester are too far ahead for my liking still.
“For me, [the form] shows we are on the right track and improving and we are Man United, that we are looking towards catching the teams in front of us.
“This is one game. Now it is on to Thursday and Sunday, to big, big games for us.”
United have budgeted for between three and five additions this calendar year and Solskjaer confirmed Fernandes would have an impact on their summer expenditure. The Reds have shelved plans to sign a left-back following the development of 19-year-old Brandon Williams but are expected to reinforce their midfield and attack in the summer window. United have made three signings in the last three summer windows.
Club sources have told M.E.N. Sport United could end up making five major signings across the winter and summer windows due to doubts over the futures of a number of players.