Riding on its winning streak before the games were suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, Manchester United will reportedly move to further strengthen the club roster when the summer transfer window opens up. Club boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to be looking to attract three new signings for Old Trafford.
The planned acquisitions by Solskjaer have been described as a major move on his part, which will add up to the successful recruitment made in January. The Norwegian brought in a new striker from Sporting Lisbon and Bruno Fernandes proved a big hit.
Since his arrival in January, and with the support of loan signing Odion Ighalo, United surged to 11 consecutive wins in all competitions and the team now has the chance to finish the term as part of the Premier League's Top 4.
If that will be achieved, a slot in the Champions League will be within reach, which will justify the reported plan by Solskjaer to make big signings when summer comes. Metro said the United manager will want to bring three big names to the team.
No specific names have been nominated but per the same report, "a striker, right winger, and midfielder are the priorities for United, with the addition of a back-up center-back also a possibility."
The need to hire a defender in support of Harry Maguire will be carefully calibrated. Reports said United will not spend too much on this respect since the hiring of Maguire last summer saw the club paying £80 million for the deal.
So on the mission to get another defender, Solskjaer is on the hunt for a more reasonably priced talent, according to Express.
"Because of how much they paid for Maguire in the summer, the caliber of player they're looking to recruit isn't top-profile," the report suggested.
As far as the goal-scoring capabilities of the club are concerned, it seemed clear that United will be focusing on transfer targets that will beef up the team's midfield force, presently headlined by Fernandes and Scott McTominay.
At the back of Solskjaer's mind is the likelihood of Paul Pogba leaving in the summer, hence the club boss must search for a high-quality replacement to fill the void that Pogba's exit will create.
While United is keen to make Ighalo a permanent signing in the summer, the Nigerian is not seen as a long-term asset by the club as he will be turning 31 soon. On that, the manager will have to look for a striker that will be with the Red Devils for an extended period.
Reports said Solskjaer is plotting to bring in young goalscorers like Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund. Real Madrid's Gareth Bale is also a possibility as the winger is reportedly on the way out of Bernabeu and the Los Blancos are offering him free of transfer cost.
