Ole: I’ll be shopping in January sales
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer is optimistic United will make a signing in the January transfer window but has reiterated any recruits must be for the longterm.
Solskjaer insists the Reds have the resources to reinforce their squad in the winter window and has received backing from the board after ending the summer without two priority targets.
M.E.N. Sport reported United are considering an alternative striker signing after Erling Haaland chose to join Borussia Dortmund.
The Reds refused to agree to the terms proposed by Haaland’s representative, Mino Raiola, which were said to have included a buyout clause and a percentage from future sales.
Solskjaer spoke about United’s possible activity in January following their 2-0 win at Burnley – the day before Dortmund announced the acquisition of Haaland.
“I’m optimistic we can keep players fit and if the right ones become available we do have the resources and I do have the backing from the board,” Solskjaer said. But it’s also about getting the right ones. It has to be.
“There’s no point suddenly bringing someone else in now for the sake of three or four months if that can disrupt any good feeling or chemistry in the group, because the chemistry in the group is really good.
“It has to be the right type and it has to be a good investment for the long-term as well.”
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer says Mason Greenwood has filled the void Romelu Lukaku left in the United attack.
Greenwood, 18, has already scored eight goals in his first full season, having only made his full debut in the final game of last term.
United sold Lukaku for a fee rising to £73m in early August but were pressed for time to replace him, since the Premier League transfer window closed.
Solskjaer said in the summer any outgoings would be replaced but then claimed a new striker signing would have potentially blocked Greenwood’s pathway to the firstteam.
“We always believed Anthony [Martial] and Marcus [Rashford] were going to score goals but Mason has filled a big void,” Solskjaer said.
“He’s chipped in with goals, so I’m not worried about goals from centre forwards.
“Mason’s on eight now. Marcus I don’t know - 14 or 15 (16)? Anthony has quite a few. Romelu’s a good striker and he’ll always score goals but it was time for him to move on.
“We didn’t find the right one outfor side our club but we had Mason.”
United will end the decade with two titles, two League Cups, an FA Cup and a maiden Uefa Cup, but the 10-year period also featured the managerial sackings and the end of the club’s 20-year domestic dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Solskjaer has remained optimistic throughout a testing first half of the campaign and is excited about what the new year has in store.
“2020 sounds quite good for me. I’m going to make 2020 a good year myself. I think we’re on the right track. We are in a transition period, we’ve seen other clubs do it and come out strong after a couple of years, and that’s just in the nature of this club.”
Solskjaer is also hopeful United will build upon their recent wins when they had the majority of possession. Before the Boxing Day stroll against Newcastle, United had won just one of their past 17 Premier League matches when they enjoyed the lion’s share of the ball, but recorded more than 50 per cent against Newcastle and Burnley.
“It’s hard to compare but we have to learn that way of playing football,” Solskjaer reiterated. “I’ve said we’re not a Manchester City, we can’t play, out-play and out-football teams like they do yet but hopefully in a few years we can.
“It’s not going to be overnight. It’s only them who can do that. We are more with fast-flowing, quicker [at] attacking, but if you can mix that with then you’ve got a chance.”