Victories last week over Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City should not mask the reality that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs money to invest this January.
The Reds have struggled for squad depth since Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera were not replaced this summer. Solskjaer needs to be looking to sign at least one midfielder and one striker in January, despite the winter transfer window being notoriously difficult to negotiate in.
But Solskjaer will not be afforded the luxury of endless transfer windows to improve the squad and must invest at every given opportunity.
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One of the strikers Manchester United were linked with in the summer was Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic.
According to a report by Sky Sports last month, the Reds remained interested in the Croatian international ahead of a potential deal in January after not being able to secure his services to replace Lukaku in the summer.
However, according to Corriere dello Sport, as sourced by Sport Witness, there was an unexplained breakdown in the negotiations between United and Juventus for the 33-year-old.
Mandzukic has yet to play under Mauricio Sarri in Turin this season, seemingly left out in the cold by the former Chelsea boss. Whilst he may have been a useful experienced plan B option for Solskjaer coming from the bench, the United manager should be targeting a more youthful forward that fits his preferred style of play.
As reported by the Athletic, 19-year-old RB Salzburg Erling Haaland remains a target for United this January.
