Man Utd: Pundit discusses Solskjaer's transfer plans
In January 2013, Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson made one last signing before retirement. He splashed out £18million on Wilfried Zaha, believing the Crystal Palace forward could flourish for the club in the future. But, by the time Zaha finally rocked up at Old Trafford, Ferguson no longer ruled the roost.
Instead, Zaha returned to a Manchester United side managed by David Moyes.
And the Scot didn’t fancy the Ivory Coast international, playing him just four times before shipping him out on loan to Cardiff.
For Zaha, Ferguson leaving was a blow. He lost a manager who believed in him, a legend of the game who was ready to shape him into something else.
And, now, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer risks throwing Daniel James’ long-term future at the club into uncertain waters.
According to recent reports, United could get the Wales international to sign a new contract before sending him out on loan.
They’re preparing to welcome Jadon Sancho to Old Trafford and believe that, while Real Madrid and Liverpool are also admirers of the Borussia Dortmund star, they’re in pole position to secure his signature.
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As recently as December, Solskjaer’s position at United looked unsafe.
The 2-0 defeat to Burnley at Old Trafford, on a night where the supporters vented their rage and fury at Ed Woodward and the Glazer family, was a chastening experience.
United’s response in the time since has been emphatic.
But Solskjaer is still somewhat a rookie when it comes to management.
There’s no sure sign that the club won’t experience a repeat of the Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho eras further down the line.
Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may loan out Daniel James (Image: GETTY)
Zaha was unlucky. And, speaking over the weekend, the Ivorian admitted he was left crushed by Ferguson’s retirement - because it saw his Old Trafford chapter take a different turn.
"It crushed me a little bit because it was like, after speaking to him, it was a no-brainer that I wanted to go there. I had no idea he was leaving,” he said.
Now, United run the risk of seeing James go the same way as Zaha.
If he were to leave Old Trafford temporarily, then there’s no guarantee he’d get the same opportunities as under Solskjaer.
And if United’s season was to take a turn for the worse, there’s also no guarantee that Solskjaer would still be at the club for when he’d returned.