Man Utd: Solskjaer defends decision to bench Bruno
Manchester United are monitoring Neymar and Kylian Mbappe amid uncertainty over their Paris Saint-Germain futures, reports say. The Red Devils are determined to back Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the summer transfer window. And they’re looking at players whose contract expire in 2022 as they plot a path to the top of the Premier League table.
Manchester United have done well under Solskjaer this season, with the Norwegian steering his side to second in the Premier League table.
But, with Manchester City set to be crowned champions come May, the Red Devils know they need more if they’re to win the prize.
United have Erling Haaland as their priority target ahead of the summer transfer window.
However, with competition for the 20-year-old set to be fierce, the Manchester Evening News say they’re also looking at players whose contracts expire in 2022.
As a result, Paris Saint-Germain pair Neymar and Mbappe are both being monitored behind the scenes.
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And with Varane primed to become a free agent next year, Los Blancos may be forced into accepting a reduced fee for the 2018 World Cup winner.
His compatriot, Ousmane Dembele, is also being eyed at a time where Barcelona are yet to tie him down on new and improved terms.
And Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini and Juventus’ Paulo Dybala are also in their sights, with both players looking likely to leave in order to pursue new challenges elsewhere.
Meanwhile, speaking last year, Louis Saha urged the club to position themselves to sign Mbappe - while acknowledging they may have missed their chance.
"If you ask me, I would break the bank for Mbappe, but now it's too late," Saha told Compare.Bet.
Man Utd admire Ousmane Dembele and Raphael Varane (Image: GETTY)
"But, when you look at strikers, it's a dying breed. [Robert] Lewandowski is a rare example of someone who is left, and I don't see many players that can easily fit up front.
"I had views on some strikers like [Atalanta's] Duvan Zapata who I think is a decent player, very strong.
"There is a need for somebody up front who is strong enough to hold the ball and to give time and space to the players like Paul Pogba and [Scott] McTominay to create something in midfield to put passes together."
Solskjaer has previously warned fans not to expect huge summer deals, with the coronavirus crisis still impacting the club’s financial situation.
“[The pandemic] is definitely affecting everyone in football. Of course the lack of income, the finances have affected everyone," he said.
Man Utd are eyeing Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini (Image: GETTY)
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“We have to be realistic and responsible in the way we do our business both on and off the pitch. There are improvements on the training ground, stadium - we have to look at the whole picture.
"Where can we spend the money? And how much is there? It’s just the real world now. It has changed.”
He then added: “You can look at it different ways [with a] rebuild. We also have players in the academy that we now can maybe give opportunities.
"All clubs in the world are going through the same situation so it’s no different for other clubs than for us.
“I think there’s just going to be less and less transfers happening in the world of football with all these changes.”