Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains why Romelu Lukaku was sold

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has explained why he took the decision to sell Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku joined Inter Milan on Thursday for around £74 million, which means that United again kept their transfer spending to a minimum instead of trying to improve the team to challenge for the Champions League places.

Hover Solskjaer believes that United are better of specifically for being rid of the Belgian striker, though not because he lacked talent.

Solskjaer said: “Of course Rom has a good record and statistically he’s one of the top number nines around when you want to play with that kind of striker, a target man,”

“But I’m very confident that we’ll get goals from Martial and Rashford. Dan James will create and Jesse Lingard will get more.

“It was time now for Rom to go because I think we got a good deal, he’s happy, so I think both parties ended that deal as it should be.

“Rom was injured for a while this pre-season and didn’t participate, so I just hope for him he’ll get a good start at Inter Milan.”

As well as a tactical change that could benefit United, the Norwegian manager also thinks that Lukaku’s absence will give more chances to 17-year-old striker Mason Greenwood, who improved at the end of last season and also featured in the club’s pre-season with some success.

“Towards the end of last season we didn’t score a lot of goals and Mason Greenwood’s pathway would have been a lot more difficult if we had another forward there.

“I believe Mason is going to be playing and involved a lot and when he is he’s going to score goals.”

United play Chelsea this weekend where they will lose 2-0, before going on to lose in their next match against Wolves.