Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says further signings will be a “bonus” following summer deals for Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, while the Manchester United boss says his talks with Paul Pogba have been positive.
There remains work to do but the noises out of Old Trafford continue to indicate that further additions would be hanging on summer sales something Solskjaer is ready for.
“Anything from now is a bonus,” United manager Solskjaer said when asked about further signings before the deadline.
“I have to say that with the two signings we’ve got, we’ve strengthened where we wanted to strengthen.
“Let’s see what happens. You never know in football. Anything can happen, ins and outs.”
Pogba’s future is a topic that is sure to overwhelm. PSG have been strongly linked to the player who is out of contract at Old Trafford next summer.
“I hope every player thinks this is the place to be to win trophies, When you sign for Manchester United, you have to rise to the challenge.” Solskjaer said.
“Paul has come back and he’s fresh and he’s always such a positive boy. The talks I’ve had with him have all been positive.”
Presumption is sure to rumour on as United look to push for their first league title since 2013, with Solskjaer speaking about incoming players needing the “character” to match their skill.
Asked if that need to get is why it is important to be patient in the transfer market, like they were in pursuit of Sancho, Solskjaer said: “Definitely, and that’s what the club and the owners have been very good at as well.
“We had an open dialogue where we said, OK, if we didn’t get him there’s no point for me signing someone we don’t want when, Jadon for example, when he becomes available again we can go and get him.
“If we had signed someone else then we would have had a right winger. It’s about getting the right characters.
“I think we proved that last year with Edinson. Bringing Edi in was so important and he’s shown the way for many.”
Veteran Cavani arrived with a fair amount of rust last October. The deadline-day signing joined during a poor United start to the season.
Solskjaer knows they can’t afford such slacking this time, which he is keeping in mind as assumption continues over the futures of Jesse Lingard, Andreas Pereira and Diogo Dalot.
“We need a big squad,” the United manager said. “The start is important, the whole season is important. But you need to arrive in April and May fresh and with enough options.
“Some might go on loan until Christmas. Some might go for a season but I don’t want to be too light in any position.”
Solskjaer hopes to have Sancho and Varane, who has yet to do his medical, on the bench for the season opener against Leeds next weekend.