Man Utd: Solskjaer urges team to use Europa pain to rebuild
Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand has named three players the club should sign this summer. After another trophyless season, United need a big transfer window to bolster the quality and depth of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad.
Solskjaer has led United to their joint-best Premier League finish since 2013 this season, placing second on 74 points.
However, the Red Devils fell short in the cup competitions again this term, extending their trophy drought to four seasons.
The closest Solskjaer got to lifting silverware was in Wednesday's Europa League final, in which his side suffered a crushing defeat to underdogs Villarreal on penalties.
United conceded from another set-piece to fall behind in the first-half before Edinson Cavani equalised after the break.
After failing to break the resilient Spaniards down in regular and extra time, David de Gea missed the decisive spot-kick to gift Villarreal an 11-10 penalty shootout triumph in Gdansk.
Rio Ferdinand wants Man Utd to sign Marquinhos. (Image: GETTY)
It was a tough pill to swallow for Solskjaer and fans, who seemed destined to be the recipients of an award after a largely progressive campaign.
However, all eyes are now on the transfer window as United seek to build ahead of 2021/22 and close the gap on Premier League champions Manchester City.
According to reports, Solskjaer has named a four-man shortlist worth over £300m for the summer transfer window.
Pau Torres, Declan Rice, Jadon Sancho and Harry Kane are the Norwegian's four primary targets, but he wants some form of reinforcements in each area if the club can't acquire all four players.
Ferdinand agrees with two of the names and suggested another centre-back who would undoubtedly ease United's defensive woes.
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The former United No 5 continued by emphasising the need for the correct characters rather than focusing on the most prominent names possible.
"It's not about just the level of player that you're going to bring in or their ability as a football player, it's also about their character," Ferdinand explained.
"You've got to bring the right characters in, the right people in that are going to get people around them and bring them along and drag them and make them better players around them.
"It doesn't always have to be a player that comes from a dominant team and has done everything in the game.
"Sometimes it's about recruiting the right type of player, and that comes down to the recruitment."
The summer transfer window opens on June 9, with planning most likely already underway ahead of the new campaign.