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Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aren’t the only ones with a major problem. Liverpool.
Miles ahead in the field and miles ahead in the transfer market.
United finished 15 points behind Manchester City last season, but there were enough signs to suggest they could get closer this time.
They were able to receive a particular boost from their head-to-head record against Pep Guardiola’s side, winning both Premier League matches in 2019/20.
There is still a considerable gap between the two Manchester teams, but not one that is insurmountable.
Yes, City have bought players in this transfer window but the hiring of Nathan Ake, Ferran Torres and Ruben Dias invites as many questions as answers.
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
Torres is promising, but world-class talents David Silva and Leroy Sane are gone. Dias has a solid reputation but Ake had been part of a defense that filtered goals at an alarming rate.
Even if United has to settle for a buying business, the consummate Donny van de Beek, there is no obvious reason they should lose ground to City this season.
But if they want to make some sort of foray into the chasm that separates them from Liverpool, United must simply resolve a dysfunctional transfer policy.
Short and long term.
As mentioned elsewhere on this page, Liverpool has not only proven to be a skilled buyer, but is also a very skilled seller.
Unlike United.
They took a big hit on Alexis Sanchez and still have a selection of top earning fringe players like Phil Jones and Jesse Lingard that need to unload.
In case you hadn’t noticed, the Glazers run United strictly as a business. Like it or not, you have to make an accounting balance.
(Image: POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Which, by the way, makes the goalkeeper’s situation a bit strange.
Whoever Solskjaer makes his number one pick, and so far there is no indication that it is Dean Henderson before David de Gea, the situation is plain and simple.
For every Premier League game, United will have a very valuable asset, a highly paid asset, sitting on the bench, doing nothing.
It may look good and it’s great for Solskjaer to have fantastic backing, but from a practical and financial point of view, it makes little sense.
United have two brilliant goalkeepers under contract through 2023 and 2025.
Sooner or later, they will surely have to choose number one and sell the other.
It is typical of confused thinking.
A while ago, Ed Woodward was almost convincing in explaining why United had yet to go the football director route.
Manchester United are looking to chart their way back to the top. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already signed Donny van de Beek, but Jadon Sancho remains Manchester United’s number one target.
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But the evidence that Woodward and Solskjaer need help, both on the buying and selling front, continues to mount.
They might as well do last minute business for the next few days. Edinson Cavani seems like a possibility.
They might even pull a Jadon Sancho deal out of the fire.
But it will still all look a bit unseemly. Certainly not meticulously structured as the Liverpool business appears to be.
Chelsea finished last season tied on points with United and have drafted in numbers. It remains to be seen how wise that recruitment has been.
But at least they seemed to have a plan, not at Old Trafford.
Sevilla football director Monchi gave an interview last week in which he said he simply couldn’t believe Manchester United did not have a sports director.
And with the evidence of this extended transfer window, you’re right.
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