Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not want new signings

Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer apparently does not think it particularly necessary to bring in players to Manchester United this winter. The Sun carries a story that suggests the interim manager is happy with his lot with half of the season to go. He said: “Across the whole squad, whoever is called upon is ready. This is a squad full of good players, full of talent and full of determination.”

While he can hardly tell the truth - this is a squad of above average talent, with a deeply questionable general mindset and some of the worst defenders in the club’s Premier League history - it would be nice if there wasn’t the sense that Solskjaer knows he has little influence at the club, and is happy to spend nothing because that was part of the deal when he agreed to take over.

Just looking at the defence, it is obvious that Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young are nowhere near the required quality. Eric Bailly does not seem ready to kick on with whatever potential he has, and Victor Lindelof’s recent improvement takes him merely to mediocre rather than impressive.

Nevertheless, Ed Woodward is in charge of the club, and the aimless buffoon now has his patsy, which is what he wanted all along. He can pretend that he needs a director of football before any serious changes can be made, and he can skimp on the defence for at least another six more months. If that costs them a Champions League place, well we know already that he has used Liverpool’s continued revenues as an example of how mediocrity will always be rewarded by a global, gullible fanbase.

On the other hand, at least Marouane Fellaini is off, and that will give the Glazer family a few more million to count in Florida.