Ben Guest
Manchester United are willing to do ‘whatever it takes’ to back Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in this summer’s transfer market according to a report.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was installed as interim manager back in December 2018 as Manchester United looked to stabilise an otherwise sinking ship that had been run aground by its former commander, Jose Mourinho.
However, with Ole at the Wheel, the Red Devils have undergone a remarkable recovery, closing the gap to the top four to just two points having been 11 points behind when the Norwegian took over, and the Red Devils have today announced that he has been handed a three year deal to become the club’s permanent manager.
However, now the honeymoon is over, attentions have turned to what effect Solskjaer could have in the long-term, and while he has managed to get a tune out of the squad he has been left with, it has a number of glaring deficiencies.
United haven’t had a proper right winger ever since Antonio Valencia was converted into a full-back, while Jose Mourinho was left frustrated by the clubs failure to sign key targets in each of the last summer transfer windows, especially at centre-back which still looks a particular point of weakness.
However, with Manchester United having been linked with mega-money moves for the likes of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane in recent weeks, the Independent are reporting that Ed Woodward will do ‘whatever it takes’ in the summer to back his new permanent manager.
It adds that the club will spend ‘hundreds of millions’ to strengthen their squad and are ‘prepared to break their transfer record if required,’ with some reports suggesting that both Sancho and Varane could tip the £100 million mark.
The report also suggests the club are once again looking at Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti as a candidate fill the void in the heart of defence, while Crystal Palace‘s Aaron Wan Bissaka and Chelsea‘s Callum Hudson-Odoi are claimed to also on Solskjaer’s radar, with the Norwegian keen to have a youthful look to his Manchester United side.
However, it claims that United would turn down the opportunity to buy long-term target Gareth Bale while they have ‘no interest’ in former Liverpool playmaker, Philippe Coutinho, who has been touted as a target in certain sections of the media.