Solskjaer feels the team needs two or three players to challenge for major honours next season.
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Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stated that the team requires two or three players in the upcoming summer transfer window to challenge for major honours next season. Having secured second place in the Premier League, Ole felt that making the next step would be difficult without new signings. “As I’ve said a couple of times, I hope we can strengthen with a few,” he said during Friday’s pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s final league match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“We definitely need two or three players to challenge higher up in the table. We’re still too far behind to think that it’ll come by itself. Of course, we’re planning as we normally do. It’s not like [only] at the end of the season we see what we’ll do. It’s an ongoing process, looking at the squad, at the players who are going to stay and the players who might be leaving.”
Ole has already admitted that goalkeeper Sergio Romero will not be offered an extension to his contract, and will leave in the summer. Some United players like Jesse Lingard and James Garner have been out on loan and the manager was asked about them returning to the team this summer.
“We’ve had a few on loan who might come back in,” said Ole. “There might be interest in a few others maybe going out. We might allow some players to go out to gain experience and come back stronger for it. Apart from that, it’s difficult to say. But I can’t see too many outgoings. You want to come out of the window strengthened, that’s the thing.”
Mata’s current contract at Manchester United expires this summer and Solskjaer has provided an update about his situation. “We’re talking to Juan, we’ve had good dialogue, good discussion. That dialogue will continue. Let’s see what he wants to do at the end of the season,” he added.
“Of course, he’s such a top professional, very good player. It’s hard for me not to play him more than I have done. Of course, there’s been circumstances this season, some personal issues that’s made him less available. He’s still a top player, so that decision will be made after the season has finished.”
