OLE Gunnar Solskjaer has been something of a contradiction, a smiling, Scandinavian paradox, in his first few months as Manchester United manager. In so many instances, the Norwegian has been eager to take the club back in time, evoking the spirit that turned the Old Trafford outfit into a footballing superpower when he was scoring Champions League winners as a player.
His transfer strategy so far, however, has been determined with a firm focus on the future. £15 million has been spent on 21-year-old winger Daniel James from Swansea City with Sean Longstaff now a £25 million target and discussions for the transfer of Aaron Wan-Bissaka still ongoing.
United have still been mentioned as potential suitors for Gareth Bale, Antoine Griezmann and Neymar, but there has been a distinct move away from the wannabe Galacticos transfer policy of the past few years. Solskjaer, it seems, want to focus on luring promising, young, largely homegrown players to the club this summer.
Players Man Utd have been linked with this summer… but haven’t signed:
Griezmann ❌
De Ligt ❌
Bale ❌
Maguire ❌
Koulibaly ❌
Rabiot ❌
Alderweireld ❌
Wan-Bissaka ❌
Diop ❌
Onana ❌Players Man Utd have signed this summer:
Daniel James ✅#MUFC pic.twitter.com/XmLYkNnv1k
— Sporting Index (@sportingindex) June 18, 2019
This is an understandable change of tact. Man Utd’s approach in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson age has been misguided. They have been stung by a number of big money, big name signings who saw the Old Trafford club as a cash cow to milk. Instead, United must identify players on an upward trajectory and give them a platform.
For this new approach to be a success, though, there must be more than just a change of transfer strategy. There has to be a fundamental overhaul of the entire culture around the club, the culture that has made Manchester United such a difficult environment for young players over the past few years.
Wilfried Zaha's stats since returning to #CPFC. pic.twitter.com/AGntj8XVTy
— TheOther14 (@Other14The) June 11, 2019
Take Wilfried Zaha as the starkest case study of how United has failed young players. The winger has gone on to become a Premier League star, but not at Old Trafford. Instead, Zaha, who was barely given a chance at Man Utd, had to return to Crystal Palace to fulfil his very obvious potential with the 26-year-old now a mega money target for a number of elite teams.
Has anything really changed since Zaha was chewed up and spat out at United? Will James or Longstaff, should he make the move to Old Trafford this summer, be afforded the patience all young players need to succeed at such a big club? Or will history repeat itself and compromise this new ideology?
Of course, much of the impatience felt at Man Utd over the development of young players is entirely typical of a big club. But compare the protection Phil Foden has been given at Manchester City to the way players like Adnan Januzaj, Memphis Depay and Zaha were brought in and shipped out before they even had an opportunity to prove themselves. Even Chelsea in their bringing through of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have fostered a better environment for young players than United.
Man United must learn from Liverpool it may take years before they get the 21st league title. They must invest in great players suited to the team's culture. pic.twitter.com/LAHW7q7BxU
— The Prince of Waterpoort (@PrinceLeshiba29) May 16, 2019
There has been a lot of talk about philosophy at Man Utd of late. Under David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho the primary ideological focus was on the style of play, on the deviation from the fabled ‘United Way.’ That is still a topic of discussion, with Solskjaer seemingly intent on forging a fast and furious, counter-attacking team.
But the ‘United Way’ is about more than just style of play. It’s about the player's profile. This is another way in which Solskjaer is attempting to turn back the clock. The Norwegian’s efforts will be for nothing if his young players aren’t allowed the time and patience to develop, though. Manchester United need more than just a squad overhaul. They need an overhaul in culture as well. That is more difficult to find in the transfer market.
