UNITED KO TRIP SEARCH
OLE ENDS SUMMER SPREE
MANCHESTER United have ended their interest in Kieran Trippier and put away their cheque book for this summer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is happy with his transfer business and Raphael Varane will officially complete his £35million move from Real Madrid this week to become United’s second summer signing.
Varane will join Jadon Sancho at Old Trafford and the England winger, who cost an initial £73m from Borussia Dortmund, began training with his new teammates yesterday.
Solskjaer has decided he does not need anyone else and has ruled out making an offer to Atletico Madrid for Trippier.
United did show interest in Trippier, who is keen to return to the Premier League after two years in Spain, but Solskjaer thinks Diogo Dalot’s re-emergence gives him the depth he wants at right-back.
The United manager has been impressed by Dalot’s form in pre-season and the Portugual international scored in Saturday’s 4-0 friendly win over Everton.
Dalot, 22, spent last season with AC Milan and United were originally prepared to let him return to the San Siro on loan again.
But they have changed their mind because of his performances for Portugal at Euro 2020, where he made his international debut, and in pre-season.
Milan also baulked at their demands for a £4million loan fee and have switched their sights to Roma’s Italy full-back Alessandro Florenzi.
Solskjaer is keen to integrate Varane as quickly as possible into his squad and the centrehalf has been following a specially-tailored training programme at home while he quarantines. The 28-year-old has been working out at his new house in Manchester while he self-isolates with his family. He posted pictures on social media of himself training in his garden and he is determined to hit the ground running here. Solskjaer will assess Sancho and Varane ahead of Saturday’s Premier League curtain raiser against Leeds at Old Trafford and Dan James claims the noise levels will be off the scale.
James was struck by the atmosphere generated by the 55,000 crowd for the Everton game and thinks it will go up several notches for Leeds. Old Trafford will be filled to capacity by 74,000 supporters in what will be the biggest attendance at a UK game since the Manchester derby there in March 2020.
The Wales winger, who almost joined Leeds in January 2019 before signing for United for £15million six months later, said: “It’s absolutely brilliant coming out to this crowd.
“We’re edging closer to the start of the season now and I’m sure next week will be 10 times louder.
“I can’t wait. What a game to have first, Leeds United.”