Premier League Rumors: Red Devils No Longer Taking In Striker, Saving Up For Sancho

It appears Manchester United will no longer add strikers to the team after sealing a new deal with Shanghai Shenhua for Odion Ighalo. This means that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's previous targets are now shelved. Among the names on the Red Devils' radar include Anthony Martial, Moussa Dembele, Harry Kane, Erling Braut Haaland and Timo Werner.

Solskjaer broadened his choices when the future of Ighalo was unclear. Originally, there was the word that United management was shelving plans for the Nigerian. The belief then was that the only way to keep Ighalo was to buy him out - something that Shanghai Shenhua was expecting. But things changed dramatically when the COVID-19 pandemic got out of control. Clubs faced financial difficulties and the only way that Ighalo was staying was a new deal. All that was sealed recently. Better yet, it still included an option to buy with the price set at $25 million.

United could have considered getting another striker in the market although it may have not made sense. One is that the Red Devils are working on a tight budget and most of their candidates carried hefty prices. Further, adding another new goalscorer could have made things crowded over at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba have benefitted from the COVID-19 lull, given time to recuperate from their respective injuries. Both could be back in action, giving Solskjaer more offensive options.

Also, United may be saving its funds for an even bigger target come the next transfer window. One player, they have been trying to snag since last year is Jadon Sancho but efforts have failed. Borussia Dortmund is asking $125 million for the 20-year-old winger and it appears top management will be backing Solskjaer in his pursuit. No less than executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward promised the 47-year-old coach that they will go after his targets.

It appears Woodward has already prepared funds for that. Woodward $175 million loan withdrawal that would be added to the club's $112 million cash reserves before the next transfer window. Dembele and Werner are still on the Red Devils' radar but a big-money move for either by the next window may not be in the plans of Solskjaer.