Ever since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed Manchester United manager in March, this summer’s transfer window has been pinpointed as a vital opportunity to revitalise the squad. A centre-back, a full-back, a winger and a central midfielder were just some of the positions urgently in need of examination. The club also faced a pressing need to cut expensive deadwood from the playing staff to reduce the wage bill.
With less than two weeks to go until the transfer window closes, it remains to be seen if it will be regarded as a success for the club. So far 21-year-old winger Daniel James has been signed for £15m from Swansea and right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has joined for £45m from Crystal Palace. Despite having a successful season in the Premier League, the English defender had a poor tournament at the U21 European Championship, scoring an own goal as England crashed out in the group stages. Time will tell whether his performances for United justify his sky-high fee, which places him as the eighth most expensive defender in the world.
Solskjaer is desperate to sign a centre-back and covets Leicester’s Harry Maguire. However, the Foxes are demanding a world record fee. This has led to questions being asked as to why United did not do more to buy Dutch wonderkid Matthijs de Ligt. Among a long line of suitors, Juventus eventually came out on top, paying £67.5m for the 19-year-old. While his salary demands are almost certainly greater than Maguire’s, so too is his skill level and resale value. Are United settling for second best?
Manchester United’s recruitment drive comes against the backdrop of growing uncertainty regarding the futures of Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba. The club intend to sell the former and keep the latter, but the situation needs to be resolved quickly.
The club can ill afford another summer of inactivity.
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