Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rules out big signings

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not think the club will be able to spend big this summer as a result of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

It seems unlikely that Old Trafford will be able to welcome many fans, if any, before the start of next season. The British vaccine programme does appear to be more successful than most parts of the world and so ticket sales should recover back to pre-pandemic levels over the course of next season, but the last two seasons have cost United tens of millions in lost revenue.

That means that United will be more circumspect in the transfer window, something that will affect most other clubs in Europe who do not have funding sources from outside their own traditional earning streams. Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are backed by human rights abusers, who could step in to back their own clubs in the market.

Solskjaer however has played down expectations for his own club.

“There’s going to be less transfers happening in the world of football with all these changes.

“The pandemic is definitely affecting everyone in football, the lack of finances, it’s affected everyone.

“All clubs in the world are going through the same situation so it’s no different for other clubs than for us.”

“We have to be realistic and responsible in the way we do our business both on and off the pitch.

“There are improvements on the training ground, stadium - we have to look at the whole picture.

“Where can we spend the money? And how much is there? It’s just the real world now. It has changed.”

“You can look at it in different ways with a rebuild. We also have players in the academy that we now can maybe give opportunities for.”

Solskjaer is believed to be in the market for a central defender, a right-sided defender and a right winger, and perhaps a striker should Edinson Cavani leave.