Solskjaer may have to open a swap shop!
UNITED described last summer’s transfer window as ‘like no other.’ One year on it looks like a case of deja vu.
The world of football will feel the ramifications of the pandemic for years to come, with those clubs fortunate enough to survive the ordeal placed in an uncomfortable position going forward.
United are more fortunate than most and even with matchday revenues drained for well over a year, they have continued to grow commercially, with last week’s shirt sponsorship announcement further evidence of their continued marketing power. However, when it comes to the summer transfer market Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side might well need to get creative.
While many sides accept the need to cash-in on their most marketable players at the end of the season, many others are wary about players sales, knowing they must off-set any departures with their own additions in such a tricky climate.
As was the case a year ago, just because a player is available it does not necessarily mean that two clubs will be able to strike a deal.
Yet there are a few things which teams could do to help - for United, allowing first-team castaways to leave in swap-deals should be top of that list.
Jesse Lingard’s recent success at West Ham has sparked the suggestion of a big-money sale at the end of the season.
United should be able to get a sizeable fee for the England international but they might be better off looking to utilise him as leverage in transfer dealings.
There was interest from across Europe for Lingard when he was made available for loan but it could be domestic duo West Ham and Leicester who are tempted to move for him.
That could open up a swap-deal for a player like Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek or Wesley Fofana.
Eric Bailly’s resurgent season has propelled him back on radars.
M.E.N. Sport understand defensive target Pau Torres could be allowed to leave Villarreal in a trade deal this summer with Bailly a former player of the Spanish club.
Solskjaer could also look to include duo Diogo Dalot and Andreas Pereira in any deals brokered with a top-flight European club, with the pair retaining a decent transfer value despite underwhelming loan-spells in Serie A.
As with last summer United will need to adapt to the ‘new normal’ and look to get creative. Moves for some targets will be determined by cold hard cash, but for others there will certainly be an opportunity to include some unwanted players in player-plus-cash offers.