Solskjaer makes new centre-back Man Utd’s No1 transfer priority… but move for David Alaba looking unlikely
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is prioritising a centre-back in January, according to reports.
But Manchester United are reportedly unlikely to move for Bayern Munich defender David Alaba.
Solskjaer’s focus is mainly on the summer transfer window.
But United will move for a centre-back next month if an appropriate target becomes available, according to the Telegraph.
Victor Lindelof has played alongside captain Harry Maguire recently.
But Solskjaer is said to want more quality and pace in the position as he tries to steer the Red Devils to success.
Alaba has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League – with Chelsea favourites to sign him – after Bayern accepted he will leave on a free at the end of this season.
The 28-year-old’s contract expires in the summer at which time he will have spent more than a decade with the Bavarians.
Austrian international Alaba currently earns around £150,000 per week at Bayern Munich – miles off the likes of Robert Lewandowski (£375,000) and Thomas Muller (£300,000).
The German giants offered Alaba a significant pay-increase – at around £200,000, according to BILD – but the Austrian still felt let down.
Most read in Football
Alaba can sign a pre-contract agreement with non-German clubs in January but despite his availability the Red Devils are expected to look elsewhere.
Earlier this week, Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted the defender will leave but the club wanted to keep him.
He said: “Bayern did everything we could to try and reach an agreement.
“We had a lot of conversations, but we wanted answers from him by the end of October.
“This didn’t happen and I don’t know if we’ll return to the negotiations.
“What I want to be clear about is that our offer showed exactly how much we value him.
“But he didn’t accept it.
“‘He’s free to speak to whoever he wants from January 1.”
Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford