Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged the Manchester United hierarchy to open their chequebook, amid the club’s transfer stalemate this summer.
The United boss has sent a firm message to Ed Woodward and the Glazer family when speaking about the need to improve his squad, on the eve of tonight’s Europa League semi-final versus Sevilla.
Solskjaer is a huge admirer of Jadon Sancho, who is United’s top summer priority, but the club have so far been reluctant to meet Borussia Dortmund’s asking price. United’s stance has prompted the German club to say Sancho is not for sale, but Solskjaer is eager to improve his squad with additions of the highest calibre.
“It’s a race. You can see teams building. We’re always looking at the squad and player logistics,” he said.
“It is definitely about quality – and it is going to cost money to get in players who are better than the ones we already have.
“We’re just working as normal and sticking to a plan. Qualifying for the Champions League brings us a harder schedule, but it also gives us more motivation to be in with the best and challenging. That will make these players better.
“Champions League makes us more sporting and financially attractive, so that’s another factor.”
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Solskjaer is under no illusions that United have a long way to go if they’re to challenge Liverpool and Man City for the league title next season.
He has spent around £170million so far on Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Daniel James, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes and has seen success in those signings.
“We still have a way to go to get to the level of the teams at the top of the Premier League,” he added, with United finishing third in the Premier League in 2019/20. “They are too far ahead of us.
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“We are still growing, getting better of course, but we are not the finished article. Nowhere near.
“You need to plan ahead. It is not just about 11, 12, or 13 players. You have to have 19, 20, 21 or 22 that you really rely on because if you play every three days for a full year it’s going to be mentally and physically difficult.
“We are always working towards having a competitive squad and the challenge for us now is to take the next step.
“That means winning trophies and keep trying to close the gap to the top two teams.
“And we have also got to make sure that the teams who finished below us in the table stay behind us.”