Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly targeting England’s top young prospects this summer as he looks to rebuild Manchester United’s spine with home-grown stars of the future.
The Red Devils are expected to announce Solskjaer as their manager on a full-time basis in the coming days and the Norwegian is set to be handed a £250million warchest to spend on new recruits.
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been seduced by Solskjaer’s barnstorming reign as interim boss and is hopeful he can transform the club into a genuine Premier League title contender.
According to The Sun, Solskjaer is pushing Woodward to work on deals for England wonderkids Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Declan Rice and Jadon Sancho ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.
Solskjaer has been inspired by England’s revolution under Gareth Southgate and, of course, recognises the importance of youth after working with Sir Alex Ferguson for 11 years as a player at Old Trafford.
Borussia Dortmund starlet Sancho is firmly on Solskjaer’s radar and United are understood to be lining up an £80million bid for the winger’s signature.
However, United may be forced to make an improved offer for Sancho with Dortmund holding out for a bid of at least £100m.
Rice and Wan-Bissaka, meanwhile, are both valued at around £40m by West Ham and Crystal Palace respectively.
United legend Rio Ferdinand has urged his former club to go all out for Sancho in the summer transfer window.
Asked to chose between Sancho and Real Madrid misfit Gareth Bale, Ferdinand told talkSPORT: ‘Sancho or Bale? I’d take both! Manchester United can afford both.
‘They’re different players, you can’t compare them. One is at the beginning of his career and one is at the other end of his career.
‘Sancho has huge potential, he can be anything he wants to be.’
On a potential move for Bale, Ferdinand added: ‘If you’re talking about having great moments in current football, big goals on big occasions, he’s up there in that sense.
‘If I was someone at Real Madrid I’d think about the trophies we’ve won while he’s been there and I’d be delighted.
‘If I was someone looking for a player right now and he’s available, I’d take Gareth Bale if the price is right. But it’s down to Gareth isn’t it.
‘If he’s got a desire to leave now, he’s a bit disgruntled, the fans aren’t having him as much as he thought and he wants to get out of there, a deal can be made somewhere else, I’m sure.’
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