Manchester United believe the progress Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made at Old Trafford could save them more than £50million on a new centre back this summer.
Solskjaer has restored United’s attacking identity since taking over as caretaker boss, leading the club into contention for a top-four finish and the Champions League quarter-finals.
But he has also massively improved the team’s defensive record on the way to winning 14 of his 19 games in charge. In that time, United are second in the Premier League to Liverpool on goals conceded and clean sheets.
They ranked 16th when Jose Mourinho was axed in December.
The Portuguese coach expressed his desire to bring in a new centre back, despite spending a combined £61m on Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly while he was boss.
Indeed, Mourinho’s demand for the club to sign an experienced central defender last summer was a major factor in his deteriorating relationship with the Old Trafford hierarchy.
United sources insisted they would have paid £100m for a player of the calibre of Real Madrid star Raphael Varane, but were reluctant to spend £50m on Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng or Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham when both players were about to turn 30 and had injury problems.
However, the success of Solskjaer and his coaching team in tightening the defence means United are now more likely to invest in a new right back or central midfielder.
No one has flourished under Solskjaer more than Lindelof. Practically written off under Mourinho, the Swede has played in 16 of the 19 games, forming effective partnerships with Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Bailly.
Lindelof paid tribute to the impact Solskjaer has made on the team yesterday, saying: ‘He and the staff have been talking lots in training about the things we want to improve, how we want to play.
‘That’s very important for a player — to know exactly what your coach wants. He knows the club very well and that was one of the first things he said to us. Identity might be a good word to use, but he’s been very clear what he wants from us and what type of football he wants us to play.
‘He told me to do the things I’m good at, to show my abilities and to express myself on the pitch. That was very nice to hear.’
It is one of the reasons Solskjaer will be rewarded with a long-term contract at United.
‘If he gets the job, I’ll be pleased,’ added Lindelof. ‘When he speaks, you always listen.