Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Man Utd ‘hard at work’ on transfer market and could make more transfers | Football news

Watch Man Utd vs Crystal Palace live on Sky Sports Premier League from 5 pm on Saturday; start 17.30 h

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to strengthen his squad before the transfer window closes

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United are “working hard” on the transfer market and could make more transfers before the window closes on 5 October.

United bought Donny van de Beek from Ajax in a £ 39m deal, but the midfielder remains their only arrival this summer despite efforts to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho from 108 million pounds sterling.

Man Utd vs C Palace

September 19, 2020, 5:00 pm

To live

Throughout the summer, Solskjaer’s team has also linked up with high-profile moves for players like Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon, who are set to join Tottenham, and Liverpool’s new midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

However, United manager Solskjaer has not given up on bringing in fresh faces before the window closes.

Solskjaer believes Donny van de Beek is an excellent addition to the Manchester United squad, but he remains the club’s only summer signing so far.

“We are looking for a small group of players who can contribute to the quality of our team and let’s see what we can do. The club is working hard and I understand that they are working hard,” he said.

“When we sit down and argue, sometimes it doesn’t happen as planned. Life is not a straight line here, sometimes things happen and I’ve always said so. I’m very happy to work with these players.

“There are still a few weeks left in the transfer window, it could happen that we hire someone. I have worked with the club and they know what I feel the team and the squad need and let’s see if we can add to what we want.” to have.”

4:24

Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth says Manchester United does not want to pay £ 108m for Jadon Sancho and has always had that view throughout the transfer period

Solskjaer has overseen a cultural reboot since his return to Old Trafford. His philosophy of signing hungry young players has been clear during his 18 months in permanent charge, and the Norwegian reiterated his desire to recruit those who fit the character of the club.

“I want players in the building that we want to work with and who want to be a part of it and who want to be here,” added Solskjaer.

“You need quality on the pitch, you also need personal qualities, but you also have to want to be here and you have to show that you want to be here, that’s really important for us as a group that we move forward.”

0:51

Solskjaer says he is happy with Manchester United’s transfer business so far, but now has to ‘play the waiting game’

“It’s not as big a group as other clubs because being part of Manchester United and being good enough for Manchester United is one thing, but then you have another club that probably wants to keep that kind of player who has that quality.” .

“Of course, you see other clubs and what they do, they challenge us and our response has to be results, that is the answer. We can be better at things that cost nothing: the culture here, the training, the coaching. , get fit “.

Save more than 25% with NOW TV

Enjoy the Premier League season on Sky Sports for just £ 25 per month for 12 months; cancel at any time

‘The coronavirus has changed the market’

United’s lack of transfer activity has led to widespread fan discontent, with calls for the Glazer family and Executive Vice President Ed Woodward to leave as a regular trend on social media.

Although Solskjaer would have preferred to conclude his business earlier in the window, the United manager understands how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the market.

Manchester United Executive Vice President Ed Woodward

“You cannot ignore the impact of the coronavirus,” Solskjaer said. “I think that really changed the market and it happened around that period when maybe the negotiations would take place.

“Of course, the financial uncertainty of that has added to the difficulty of predicting where we are.

“You always want to have as much time with the players as possible. I think last season shows that good players can adapt and grow in a group very quickly. Harry (Maguire) was very late in the transfer window and had a huge impact on the performances in the team “.

‘We need to close the gap with City and Liverpool’

United finished third in the Premier League last season, a significant improvement over the previous season, but trailed champions Liverpool by 33 points and Manchester City in second place by 15.

Solskjaer insists his team’s next step should be to close the gap with their rivals and maintain consistency throughout the season.

“The next step is to get closer to the top two teams, let’s see how much of that gap we can close,” he said.

“Realistically, the two teams in front of us have been way ahead of the rest, it’s a chasing group and we want to be the best in that chasing group and, who knows? Crazier things have happened in football.”

“We will have to start the league well and be consistent. I don’t want to take anything away from this group because we have added some important personalities.

Manchester United finished 33 points behind Premier League champions Liverpool last season.

“We have Dean (Henderson), you have Donny, Paul (Pogba) is fit now, Bruno (Fernandes) came in and his first game was on February 1 or something, so he hasn’t been here long. Eric Bailly too. he’s back, he looks fit and really good so we hope we can move forward and who’s to say we can’t? “

Watch Manchester United’s first game of the 2020/21 Premier League season when they take on Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, live Sky sports from 5pm on Saturday; start 17.30 h.

Man Utd 2020/21: Can Ole reach the next level?

Can Manchester United improve from last season?

Manchester United are on the cusp of a new campaign with renewed and realistic optimism that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can take them to the next level.

They may have finished trophy-free in the 2019/20 season, but an encouraging end to the Premier League campaign has built a stable foundation upon which United aim to close the gap with the champions of the previous two seasons, their rivals. Liverpool and Manchester City.

With Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood in attack, the creativity and quality of Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and new addition Donny van de Beek in midfield, and defensive security fueled last season, United have the makings. of a team capable of propelling the club to new heights, now it’s up to them to deliver.

Summer Transfer Period: Key Dates and Times

Summer transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday, October 5 with an activity party in line Transfer deadline in Sky Sports News and on our Sky Sports platforms.

A national-only window for deals between the Premier League and the EFL runs from October 5 and closes on Friday, October 16 at 5 p.m. Follow all news and analysis on SSN and to the other side Sky sports‘digital platforms, even with our dedicated Transfer Center blog.

ONE MILLION POUNDS! You can imagine?

You read correctly. Don’t miss out on your chance to get £ 1 million free in this week’s Super 6 round. Play for free, tickets before 3pm on Saturday.