Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer not looking for January transfer quick fixes
"I'll never, ever put myself before the club. There's no 'I' in Manchester and there's no 'I' in this team. I could never, ever do that, that's not me. I'm working for Man Utd"
Friday 10 January 2020 23:34, UK
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is refusing to panic buy and is not looking for quick fixes in the January transfer window.
United have been hit with a series of injury blows with Harry Maguire out with a hip injury, Paul Pogba missing after ankle surgery, and Scott McTominay sidelined with a right knee issue.
Defenders Axel Tuanzebe, Marcos Rojo, Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are also on United's growing injury list, but Solskjaer is refusing to panic buy and insists he is focusing on long-term goals and not thinking about signings in terms of his own reputation.
"I'm not going to protect myself," he said. "I'm here to do the best for the club, what I think and we feel is right.
"I'll never, ever put myself before the club. There's no 'I' in Manchester and there's no 'I' in this team. I could never, ever do that, that's not me. I'm working for Man Utd.
"It wouldn't always be the worst thing you can do to put a short-term fix in if it's good for the group here and now, but you wouldn't put yourself in a situation that you've done something that you regret in 18 months' time.
"We've got to do due diligence - that's character of players, quality of players and right fit into this squad."
Solskjaer also insists he stands his ground in discussions with Old Trafford executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward about possible transfer targets.
It was put to the United boss during his Friday press conference that some fans believe he is not forthright enough in pushing the case for investment in the squad when he talks to Woodward.
Solskjaer's response was emphatic: "Of course I am, of course we've got open discussions.
"I wouldn't say to you what I say to him. We are building towards something, I'm almost getting bored myself talking about what we do have as a vision and a plan. But it doesn't change from August until now.
"We have those conversations all the time about how we are going to look in one month's time, five months' time and the longer period."
How to follow the January transfer window
Sky Sports will bring you the very latest news from the January transfer market with the return of three shows.
Start your day with Good Morning Transfers at 9am as our team of reporters bring you the latest news and insight. Transfer Talk then follows at midday delivering analysis of the biggest stories. Then join us at 7pm for the definitive round-up of the day's news with The Transfer Show.
Meanwhile, the Transfer Talk podcast is also back with more expert analysis from here and across the continent.
And as well as tuning into Sky Sports News, don't miss a thing with our dedicated Transfer Centre blog.
