Solskjaer is organizing his Manchester United players for a big modification in tactics for the coming season in favour of an ultra-attacking 4-3-3 formation.
The Norwegian is evaluating doing away with his trusted midfield alliance of Fred and Scott McTominay and will play just one holding midfielder to find a way to play new signing Jadon Sancho and star midfielders Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes in the same starting 11.
And the report says that the club must sign a top, ball-playing centreback to make the plan work, with Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane height of the club’s list.
A three-man midfield could also throw a lifeline to Donny van de Beek, who only made an insignificant four Premier League starts last season following a £40m move from Ajax.