Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will only be able to buy a midfielder this summer if he raises the funds himself by selling players.
Despite Manchester United’s determination to sign £ 77m right-back Jadon Sancho and £ 40-50m central defender Raphael Varane, many fans and experts believe that the role of midfielder is one that more needs to be strengthened.
And yet The Telegraph’s James Ducker reports that the club is unlikely to make money for this crucial signing.
“While United co-chairman Joel Glazer insisted this month that there would be a ‘significant’ investment in the team, the club’s finances have been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis,” explains Ducker.
“Solskjaer would also like a defensive midfielder, but United may have to cut the payroll substantially and sell well so that the coach can hire one.”
Those who believe that a central defender partner to Harry Maguire is more important than a defensive midfielder clearly include Solskjaer and the recruiting team.
However, it seems ironic that if Victor Lindelof wasn’t already a Manchester United player, his Euro 2020 performances so far would likely have put him at the top of the list. For many, the Swede has been one of the tournament’s best defenders thus far.
Team from the second round of the group stage (3-5-2):
Olsen #SWE
Lindelöf #SWE
They Lie #DOWN
Espinazzola #ITADumfries #NED
Locatelli #ITA
Gilmour #SCO
De Bruyne #BEL
Gosens #GERHavertz #GER
Yarmolenko #UKR– Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) June 20, 2021
United also have backing in the form of Eric Bailly, who is world class in his day, and the extremely talented Axel Tuanzebe, with excellent prospects from Teden Mengi and Will Fish as well.
However, the only specialized midfielder in United’s squad is the elderly Nemanja Matic, who Solskjaer does not choose to start many games.
This leaves the Red Devils forced to play a twin pivot of Scott McTominay and Fred, neither of whom are natural in the position and therefore both are needed to fill the job that a world-class CDM could do.
This in turn leaves United without one more attacking midfielder or forward and restricts the formations the team can adopt.
United may have received a ‘hands-off’ warning from West Ham regarding their first choice for the role, Declan Rice, but there are other great options that will bypass the Red Devils if the club’s owners aren’t in the game. allocating funds. for position.
Another standout player at Euro 2020, Sassuolo’s Manuel Locatelli, will join Juventus for around £ 34 million and Arsenal are reportedly closing in on Wolves’ Ruben Neves for a similar amount.
Of course, with the likes of Jesse Lingard, Andreas Pereira and Diogo Dalot up for sale, United could raise enough funds. But it shouldn’t be necessary and, at the current rate of investment, United will continue to lag behind its neighbors, Manchester City.
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