Job advert hints problematic Man Utd position could be higher on Solskjaer’s agenda
Manchester United may well have dropped a huge hint as to where their summer transfer priorities lie by advertising for a new scout.
The club have placed an advert on their website ManUtd.com for a first-team recruitment analyst, who will report in to the technical chief scout.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be given cash to spend on transfers this summer as he looks to close the gap on Liverpool and Man City in the Premier League.
Solskjaer was delighted with United’s third-placed finish, but he made it clear he wants “to move up the league table”.
Jadon Sancho is widely reported to be Solskjaer’s top target, with a report in The Sun saying Solskjaer will have a budget of around £140m to improve his squad.
A midfielder, centre-back and right-back are also on the club’s wanted list, while a new goalkeeper could also be climbing that list.
The job advert is looking for the required person to “identify players who demonstrate the potential to play for the first team”. Nothing interesting there, but one of the key roles will be to deliver a “comprehensive performance analysis service with a specific emphasis on goalkeepers”.
That may well suggest that Solskjaer is considering his goalkeeper situation at Old Trafford.
There are certainly question marks over De Gea’s role as No.1 next season after recent high-profile mistakes.
Of course Dean Henderson will return from his loan spell with Sheffield United after another impressive spell with the Blades. The youngster though is reportedly demanding he gets assurances about being the club’s No.1.
Solskjaer has a decision to make, but he may not be prepared to cut out De Gea just yet.
Romero to quit?
Sergio Romero is also reportedly considering quitting as the club’s reliant deputy after failing to get a look in amid De Gea’s poor form.
Romero signed for United in 2015 from Sampdoria and has acted as a robust stand-in to De Gea since.
Indeed, the Red Devils have often handed him game time in cup competitions. This season, he has appeared in all seven Europa League games under Solskjaer and 15 times in total.
Five more of those have come in the FA Cup and, according to Metro.co.uk, Romero expected to play ahead of De Gea in the semi-final defeat to Chelsea last weekend.
However, the newspaper says Romero was “really down” to learn Solskjaer had picked De Gea ahead of him and is now pondering a move away.