Solskjaer in agreement with Gary Neville and Paul Scholes over Man Utd
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Manchester United have plenty of needs if they want to become Premier League title contenders.
Much of the summer talk has been about attacking stars such as Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish, whilst midfielder Donny van de Beek is set to become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first summer signing.
But ESPN have reported that finding a dominant centre-back to line-up alongside Harry Maguire will then be Solskjaer’s priority, with Dayot Upamecano first in line.
Solskjaer clearly believes that upgrading Victor Lindelof can transform his side in a way that Virgil van Dijk’s arrival turned Liverpool into title contenders.
And his opinion is one shared by former team-mates Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, who have both urged him to sign a top class centre-back.
(Image: Getty Images)
“The Manchester United squad, as it stands today, cannot challenge for the Premier League title this season,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“The squad needed four or five improvements and it still needs four or five improvements. I’ve been saying that for a year and I’ve even nominated the positions I feel they need to improve.”
“They have to sign a world-class centre-back,” he started, before also urging him to strengthen several other areas.
Scholes, meanwhile, picked out the same flaw in United’s back line after their Europa League exit against Sevilla.
“I think they could do with a centre half, I’ve said that all along,” Scholes said on BT Sport.
(Image: Pool via REUTERS)
“I’m not sure Lindelof going to be good enough as a partner for Maguire. I think they need a dominant defender next to him.
“Defensively, the full backs are OK. On the ball you’d have to question but defensively they’re OK.
“I think the defensive record over the last 15, 20 games has been very good, probably one of the best in the league so you have to take that into respect as well.
“But I still think a dominant centre-half next to Maguire, just to cover for the slight weaknesses he has.”
Whilst they both see a need for a centre-back, a view seemingly shared by Solskjaer, Neville and Scholes are also in agreement over the need to splash the cash.
(Image: BT Sport)
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Scholes told BT Sport: “You talk about quality, talk about spending money on centre forwards and wide players. You talk about hundreds of millions for those players, but those are the players that win you trophies, the ones that win you medals.
“We know all this Sancho thing is going on, but they need to start spending the money. If they want to win trophies, they’ve got to start spending the money.”
Neville, meanwhile, said: “So, I think there are definitely four or five players required and to not get three I think it would be a problem because of what the other clubs are doing.
“If Liverpool get Thiago, if Manchester City do what they are looking like they are going to do and with Chelsea doing what they’ve done, they are your competitors and they all look like they are improving and moving forward.
“So, United have to do business but I do believe more in the strategy of what’s happening, they just have to get the deals over the line.
“That’s not always easy but they have to try and do it quickly to give Ole the time to build to get this team moulded for the start of the season.”
Will United spend and give Solskjaer what he wants and what Neville and Scholes feel they need? We’ll soon find out…
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