Manchester United can ‘exploit’ coronavirus-hit transfer market, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
United planning to reinforce Solskjaer’s squad when window re-opens
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Your support makes all the difference.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Manchester United will be well-placed to “exploit” uncertainty in the transfer market created by the coronavirus pandemic, whenever clubs are allowed to sign players again.
World football’s governing body Fifa announced on Tuesday that the forthcoming summer transfer windows will be moved to account for the suspension of most domestic leagues.
United are planning to spend once the market opens, with Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho understood to be a priority target and Aston Villa playmaker Jack Grealish expected to join.
No club is immune from the effects of the pandemic, with recent studies suggesting that player transfer values could fall by more than a quarter in Europe’s five major leagues.
But Solskjaer believes United’s relative financial strength means that they will be able to reinforce his squad and pick up relative bargains.
“Football is going to get back to normality at one point, and it’s very important we’re ready when that happens,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports.
“We want to be the best at everything, and of course now is a chance to spend more time, you discuss players, discuss plans, we’ve evaluated what we need, of course with the coaching staff we’ve looked at games, evaluated games, discussing on video calls like this.
“Then, the market, who knows how the market is going to react to this? Who knows which clubs need to sell players?
“There might be just a situation there where you can exploit, and I know that we at Man United we are one of the biggest, and the biggest, financially well-off.
“I’m sure we are capable, when we get back to normality, that we can do the business that we want to.”
Solskjaer said that – without games to prepare for – he is discussing transfers with others at United more so than he usually would at this time of year.
“Of course there will be text messages and WhatsApp messages more often,” he said. “But the biggest difference for most of us is that when you’re a footballer you don’t really get to spend much time with your family.
“That’s been a big plus, if you’re allowed to say that anything has been a big plus in this situation. But yes, we are planning, we are discussing what we have to do, what we can do, and I have to say the club has been very good so far.”
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