Solskjaer set to sign eight players United back under-fire manager
Signing of striker may be advanced to January Club will step up plans for technical director
Manchester United will make up to four signings in each of the next two summer transfer windows, following the realisation that they are around six players short of challenging for major honours.
At least one of those signings might be accelerated to the January window, with United having already drawn up a list of targets to pursue in the coming weeks.
The overhaul, with a clear-out to counterbalance the arrivals, will be led by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as the club’s hierarchy pledge to give the under-fire manager time.
A yardstick of how much United could spend in the next two windows is the £150million they committed last summer – although obviously that was balanced by player sales such as the £74million they received for Romelu Lukaku.
“Ole is looking at a three-year vision of a squad. It will be an evolution over the coming years,” a senior source said. “We are at base camp now.”
At the same time United will finally push ahead with plans for a technical director, or possibly even two people to cover that role, to become the “lightning rod” for recruitment and drive forward the club’s vision. No candidate has yet been approached but there is an expectation that it will be a former player, or at least someone who can quickly understand the club.
United had talked about hiring a technical director before Jose Mourinho was sacked in December, but are adamant that they have not had the chance until now and that their player recruitment is already more efficient than is perceived.
The modernising started after David Moyes was sacked, just 10 months after succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, the club argue. The system in place includes a thorough process of identifying, scouting and profiling targets before a shortlist of three is drawn up for each position. Matt Judge, despite his title of head of corporate development, leads negotiations.
There was an agreement with Solskjaer in the summer that Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez could leave. Lukaku was sold to Inter Milan and Sanchez joined the Italians on loan, with the hope that a buyer can be found.
United discussed signing a forward but Solskjaer – as part of a three-year plan – wanted to give opportunities to Anthony Martial as firstchoice striker, to Marcus Rashford to play there at times and for 18-year-old Mason Greenwood to feature.
There is an acceptance that United have left themselves short, with Martial’s hamstring injury a significant blow, and Solskjaer publicly
‘Ole is looking at a three-year vision of a squad. It will be an evolution. We are at base camp now’
declaring they are in the hunt for a striker, ideally in January. Rashford has scored only once in the past nine games. United will not look to a short-term fix such as re-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Solskjaer has come under pressure as United have dropped to 12th in the Premier League, just two points above the relegation zone, and 15 points behind leaders Liverpool, their next opponents, at Old Trafford on Oct 20.
As reported by The Daily Telegraph earlier this week Solskjaer will not be sacked if United lose, even heavily, to Liverpool. “We will be patient and support Ole,” the senior source insisted. “We are part way through the recruitment process for next summer and there will be another three or four signings then, and three or four more the following summer.”
United point to what they see as a good window last summer with the purchase of Harry Maguire for £85 million, Aaron Wan-bissaka for £50 million and the £15 million signing of Daniel James. All are already key first-team players.
They are committed to signing young players of a similar profile to those brought in recently, though not necessarily British talent.
Solskjaer is committed to promoting youth and, in particular, is pleased with the performances of 21-year-old defender Axel Tuanzebe who he made captain for the recent Carabao Cup tie against Rochdale and was the only player to emerge with credit from the dismal defeat at Newcastle last weekend.
While United are preaching patience and are willing to endure a painful season there is an acceptance that Solskjaer has to start gaining more victories and climb the table before getting closer to the top in the next two campaigns. United accept that they are some way short of challenging Manchester City and Liverpool at present.
If that means failing to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League, and therefore finishing outside the top six, it appears that would be endured as long as there were clear signs of progress under Solskjaer.