Promises Reds must stick to if they want Jude
UNITED’S plans are already well underway as they plan for the summer transfer window.
With the aid of his five recruitments in the last year, steady progression is already being made but the next task is to once again establish the Reds as a Champions League certainty, before then thinking about mounting a title challenge.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows success won’t come overnight, and his pursuit of Birmingham teenager Jude Bellingham is further proof thoughts are firmly on the long-term future of the club.
United are finally learning from their mistake of buying players with a limited shelf life, but the task is to convince Bellingham his long-term future would be best placed with them should he make a move to Old Trafford.
Earlier this month the midfielder was given a tour of the club’s Carrington training facilities – but the Reds are well aware of rival interest from Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund.
The 16-year-old represents a generational talent, and United are eager to see him develop alongside fellow homegrown youngsters Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford.
Throw in the possible addition of Jadon Sancho and the future of English football might once again have a United club core.
With competition so high, the Reds need to make some promises to Bellingham, and the first one is giving him assurances about his pathway into the first team.
The fee being touted for the central midfielder indicates he will achieve senior squad status immediately, but with James Garner and Dylan Levitt already at the club, it is unclear where all this game time will come. The best idea might be to sign Bellingham with the view of loaning him out for one season upon arrival, but a lack of immediate top-flight football might work against United in trying to lure him to Old Trafford in the first place.
The youngster has a big decision to make this summer and it is the job of the Reds’ recruitment department to ensure they can sell him a viable dream of eventually making it in the first team under Solskajer.
Which brings us on to the second promise – the manager.
Earlier this week Erling Haaland’s father indicated part of the reason they opted against a move to United was because they felt it relied too heavily on Solskjaer’s own interest in him.
Despite the current club backing, you can never truly guarantee a long-term future for a manager. Bellingham needs to know his future at United would be protected no matter who occupies the dugout, but clear backing for Solskjaer would certainly make his decision easier.
A lack of Champions League football looks to be the last stumbling block which could hamper United this summer. Bellingham has a desire to play in the top European competition, but having just broken onto the scene it is not so much a necessity right now.
However, it is a competition both Dortmund and Chelsea aim to be in next season – missing out on a top-four finish might not necessarily affect the pursuit too heavily this summer, but he needs to believe in United’s long-term vision if he is to sign on the dotted line.
If United can promise him those three things, then he’d have no reason to want to go anywhere else.