Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Man Utd hero reveals how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has copied Liverpool
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is copying Liverpool in their transfer policy, according to former Red Devil Paul Ince.
Man Utd: Wan-Bissaka debut praised by Solskjaer
Manchester United are trying to copy Liverpool’s transfer policy, according to United hero Ince.
Their acquisition of Harry Maguire is similar to Jurgen Klopp’s capture of Virgil van Dijk, he said.
Both teams built from the back by spending a lot of money on a big centre-back.
United have also put their faith in pacey forwards; similar to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
I look at United and I feel like they’re almost copying a Liverpool model
“I look at United and I feel like they’re almost copying a Liverpool model,” Ince told Paddy Power.
“They got Virgil van Dijk in and United got Harry Maguire in, and it seems they’ve gone for three forwards too, pacey players like [Anthony] Martial, [Jesse] Lingard and [Marcus] Rashford.
“I don’t see where Lukaku fits into that, so I’m not surprised Ole let him go.
“But that does put extra pressure on the younger lads to find the net.
“The fact is, Lukaku is a goalscorer, he’s always been a natural goalscorer but the ball has to be placed right in front of him.”
United decided to sell Lukaku this summer to Inter Milan, in a £74million deal.
Solskjaer didn’t think the Belgian fit into his plan at the club, and told him that he’d be playing second-fiddle to Marcus Rashford this season.
Lukaku decided he’d like to leave the club in a bid to find first-team football.
But, despite not being surprised at Solskjaer’s decision to sell Lukaku, Ince admitted it’ll be a big loss for United.
If he has the right players around him, Lukaku is a terrific goalscorer, he added.
Meanwhile, United kickstarted their Premier League campaign with a 4-0 win over Chelsea.
Their next match is against Wolves at Molineux on Monday night (August 19).