Ole Gunnar Solskjaer conceded Manchester United’s summer transfer plans are ‘up in the air’ amid uncertainty over whether they’ll make it for the Champions League and when Premier League will begin for next season.
The Red devils have been heavily linked with Dortmund star Jadon Sancho and Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish but have yet to get a spot in the Champions League for next season.
They are a point below Leicester in the Premier League, while they could still qualify through the Europa League. How long the summer transfer window will be open for is still unclear.
With coronavirus halting domestic leagues across Europe, there will be a knock-on effect next season. Several start dates, in August and September, have been suggested while the transfer window could run through to October.
And amid the uncertainty, Solskjaer said it is difficult for United to plan ahead. ‘Quite a lot of planning going on,’ the Manchester United manager said ahead of Monday’s Premier League clash with Southampton.
‘When do we start the league? That is obviously determined by how far we go in Europe, so you can’t really decide on the training programme.
‘There’s so many small decisions and of course sometimes transfers are out of our hands as well. If the team is going well, what do we need and what don’t we need?
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‘That is the way we’re working and you’ve got to plan for different scenarios. Uncertainty of dates, how much holiday can we give them and what will next season look like… it’s a little bit up in the air.’
Solskjaer conceded that their plans may also be hindered by lack of Champions League football.
He added: ‘I don’t think it’s like dramatic decisions, the word you said there, I don’t think the club would panic or go crazy with plans that we’ve already talked about for years to come, you do have to have a long-term plan but short-term some decisions will be easier to make if you get the Champions League.’
