7:24 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident Manchester United will be able to spend money in the transfer window when football returns
Angel Gomes
The midfielder finds himself at a crossroads with his contract running out this summer. United are keen to offer him a new contract after signing up six of his academy peers to long-term deals in the past 13 months, and Gomes has made positive noises himself. But he has not been given the first-team opportunities to enhance his burgeoning reputation at youth level so it might make sense for him to go out on loan if he does decide to recommit to the club.
VERDICT: Goes on loan
Bruno Fernandes
What is there left to say about Bruno? He has breathed new life into United’s first-team squad, lifted the standards of all around him, and he is still getting used to life in the Premier League following his January move from Sporting Lisbon. Solskjaer may have found someone special here, who has given new hope to fans that recruitment will continue in the right direction.
VERDICT: Stays
Paul Pogba
This the hardest one to call. Right now there may be more compelling arguments for Pogba to stay rather than to leave, centred on the expensive economics for any club to sign him, especially given the ongoing financial cost of coronavirus. But he has not kicked a ball yet in 2020, only made eight appearances all season, and has just a year remaining on his contract, plus a one-year option.
On paper, adding his name to the team seems to strengthen it but it might be equally attractive for the club to find a player possessing similar attributes and is less high-maintenance. For the first time since he returned to Old Trafford it can be argued Manchester United have the upper hand in this relationship and it’ll be up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to decide on Pogba’s fate.
VERDICT: Stays
Marcus Rashford
Rashford is another reminder that United’s conveyor belt of youth talent still works. He scored 19 goals in 24 appearances before injury, continuing that ruthless streak under a former United striker himself in Solskjaer, who you would expect to help develop his game even further over the next three years of his contract, which also contains an optional year.
VERDICT: Stays
Anthony Martial
He might be a player who divides Manchester United fans more than most but the long-term deal Martial signed in January 2019, which still has four years left at least, was evidence that Solskjaer sees the France star as part his long-term strategy alongside Marcus Rashford, and that remains the case after scoring 16 goals this season – his highest tally for a single campaign so far. Only Rashford eclipses his successful dribble rate of 1.71 per 90 minutes too.
VERDICT: Stays
Mason Greenwood
Another promising academy graduate, who has scored more goals (12) than Dan James and Juan Mata combined operating from the right flank, although he has not created as many chances. The 18-year-old has a long-term future at the club, with three years left of his deal plus an option, and his equal ability off both feet makes him an especially exciting prospect.
VERDICT: Stays
Odion Ighalo
The 30-year-old is scheduled to return to Shanghai Shenhua from his loan this summer but Solskjaer would like to keep him, and the Nigeria striker would like to stay. He has scored four goals in his last five appearances and shows the striking instincts that Solskjaer wants his other frontmen to hone, it also helps that Igahlo is a huge Manchester United fan.
VERDICT: Stays
Tahith Chong
The 20-year-old’s future looked uncertain before signing a new two-year deal (plus option) in March. Chong is yet to make a Premier League start but has appeared 12 times across all competitions this season and would probably benefit from a spell on loan to give him more first-team minutes and toughen him up a bit.
VERDICT: Goes on loan
Alexis Sanchez
United face a major dilemma when it comes Sanchez and, much like the Pogba puzzle, it’s economics that might make it impossible to solve especially when combined with the unknown financial situation facing football when it returns. The nature of the Chilean’s deal means he would cost huge sums and his loan to Inter Milan has not gone according to plan on the pitch. Solskjaer said Sanchez would return to the club this summer and “prove people wrong”, but what else could he have said when it appears United may be stuck with him?
VERDICT: Stays
Sourse: skysports.com
