Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has all but ruled out any further signings before the 11pm transfer deadline, despite ongoing rumours linking the club with a host of forwards to serve as short-term cover for the injured Marcus Rashford.
The club completed a £67m deal for Sporting CP midfielder Bruno Fernandes on Thursday, but United have turned down the chance to sign several players this month, including Willian Jose and Paco Alcacer, while late speculation about Joshua King may be at a dead end.
Sitting in front of the gathered media on deadline day morning, Solskjaer warned not to ‘expect’ United to bring anyone else in and expressed his delight over the Fernandes deal.
“I am not sure. I don’t expect any more business to be done. I don’t think anything is going to happen,” he said as he fielded the obvious questions about late transfers.
The Norwegian’s comments didn’t categorically rule anything out, but he made sure not to raise any late hope given that time in the January transfer window is rapidly running out.
Solskjaer and United feel they have done a good job landing Fernandes, a player who is expected to bring much needed creativity to midfield after managing an astonishing 79 combined goals and assists for Sporting in the last 18 months alone.
🗣️ Ole on @B_Fernandes8: “He's a winner. He was a fantastic captain for Sporting and is going to come here and be a leader as well.”#MUFC pic.twitter.com/HwnTr4qrrO
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 31, 2020
“He's a winner. He was a fantastic captain for Sporting and is going to come here and be a leader as well,” Solskjaer said of United’s new number 18.
Fernandes is expected to make his United debut this weekend in the Premier League clash against Wolves at Old Trafford, with Solskjaer confirming that he will be part of the squad and should play at least some part in the game.
“He’s fit enough to play and he’ll be involved definitely,” the United boss said, via ManUtd.com.
“He’ll be in the squad. Let’s get the training out of the way today. He’s had of course a few hectic days now and even with his little daughter’s three-year birthday yesterday, so I don’t know how much he will be involved, but he’s in the squad.”
For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!
Source : 90min