Solskjaer sold on Felix
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set on wrapping up deals for Portuguese duo Joao Felix and Bruno Fernandes, according to reports.
Metro says the Manchester United manager has been shaken by the Red Devils’ recent slump in form and has drawn up a summer shopping list of at least five big-name signings to “rebuild” his squad.
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One of his targets in said to be Benfica star Felix, even though the 19-year-old has also been scouted this season by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
With 14 goals in 23 league appearances this season, the teenager has been likened to a young Cristiano Ronaldo, and the newspaper claims he “would welcome the opportunity to follow in his idol’s footsteps” to Old Trafford.
Fernandes fits the bill
Fernandes, who plays for Benfica’s rivals Sporting, has also caught the eye of United’s scouts this season, and Solskjaer is said to believe the 24-year-old could offer United a “creative, goalscoring threat from midfield”.
With Juan Mata and Ander Herrera set to leave Old Trafford, Fernandes would be a superb replacement, having scored or provided assists for 28 goals in 30 appearances.
According to the London Evening Standard, the Portuguese pair would cost the English club in the region of £150m (Felix priced at £100m), but Solskjaer has that money available to spend.
Toffee a target
The Standard says that another name on Solskjaer’s list is Everton’s Idrissa Gueye, who “is being considered as a replacement for Herrera”.
The 29-year-old Senegalese defensive midfielder has bags of experience, and the United boss values his composure under pressure. The newspaper adds that Solskjaer is also after a right-back, centre-back and striker.
De Ligt’s decision
Strange as it may seem, given that Barcelona are on the brink of reaching the Champions League final, Ajax ace Matthijs de Ligt could be heading to Old Trafford rather than the Camp Nou.
The Sun says that the 19-year-old defender is “being guided towards a move to Manchester United by agent Mini Raiola because they pay more than Barcelona”.
De Ligt is said to favour the Spanish champions, but such is the influence of Raiola - who earned a reported £24m from overseeing Paul Pogba’s move from Juventus to Old Trafford in 2016 - that the Dutchman could be sold to United.
