Striker spearheads Solskjaer’s list of 6 Manchester United transfer targets

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has provided Manchester United’s board with the names of six transfer targets, according to a report.

The Daily Mail claims that Solskjaer, Mike Phelan and top scout Jim Lawlor have provided ‘Ed Woodward and Matt Judge the names of half-a-dozen targets’ for January.

There will not be any panic buying though, despite United’s struggles so far in the Premier League. The Norwegian has found himself under immense pressure after just two wins from eight Premier League games, but according to the paper, they  have ruled out a January “transfer binge” and that “big signings” could have to wait until the summer.

One forward who is believed to be on United’s wish-list is Lyon striker Moussa Dembele, 23, but the club are apparently prepared to wait to sign him rather than pay a premium for the former Celtic hitman.

The report also claims Solskjaer wants United to use a giant Spanish scouting application to help them unearth worldwide talent.

Madrid-based company Driblab, who have a database on more than 100,000 players and who “specialise in consultancy in sports big data analysis”.

As many as 12 clubs use Driblab in LaLiga, while Nottingham Forest used their services in the summer before they recruited for this season.

Driblab holds extensive data on players’ strengths and weaknesses and they also use an an algorithm to draw up an expected goals formula to see if players are performing above or below standard.

United already use an extensive scouting network worldwide, but the report claims “there is a feeling the club have to embrace modern technology as well to unearth bargains like Liverpool did with Philippe Coutinho”.