Arsenal
Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claims he was told he “couldn’t buy the players” that he “mentioned to the club” as possible targets.
The Red Devils spent around £400m on new signings during Solskjaer’s three years as manager at Old Trafford with very few hits.
Bruno Fernandes was by far and away the best signing the club made during the Norwegian’s time at the club, while Raphael Varane and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are still getting a game under Erik ten Hag.
Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo were among Solskjaer’s other high-profile transfers but the former Man Utd boss insists it was hard to get the players he wanted.
When asked if the Man Utd job is impossible, Solskjaer told The Athletic: “No, but it’s difficult, especially for managers following one of the best managers ever. The expectations are very high but we can’t live in the same era as when I played. We had Arsenal and Chelsea as rivals towards the end. Now, most teams have money or even if they don’t, they don’t need to sell.
“Back then, Wayne and Cristiano were the best young players and we signed them. Now, United can’t just go and buy Evan Ferguson. We couldn’t buy the players I mentioned to the club.”
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Pushed on which players, Solskjaer added: “Erling Haaland, before he made his Salzburg debut. Declan Rice, who wouldn’t have cost what he did in the summer. We discussed Moises Caicedo, but we felt we needed players ready for there and then. Brighton are very good at letting players come from abroad and find their feet for a year and a half. At United, you don’t have that luxury and that has cost the club loads of players.
“We wanted Jude Bellingham badly —
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