Manchester United great Bryan Robson believes it could be difficult for the club to do the required business in January, but has backed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the man to oversee their rebuild.
Former United captain Robson was part of the team when the club last went through a rough spell without winning regular trophies.
And he's admitted that the club made a mistake in allowing the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera to leave without being replaced.
But Robson, who occasionally works as a pundit for MUTV, has supported Solskjaer's policy of developing younger players as part of United's long-term strategy to return to the top.
Asked in an ESPN interview whether Solskjaer is the right man to carry United forward, Robson said: "Yes I do, because everybody went with the policy that they were going to encourage the young boys coming through the ranks. That's exactly what United have done.
"I think Ole has allowed too many good, experienced players to leave the club without replacing them and that's why it's left them a little bit short."
United have been linked with Mario Mandzukic and James Maddison, among other potential January targets, but Robson has cast doubt on whether the club will be able to push deals through in the mid-season window.
"I always think it's really difficult to find top class players who are prepared to leave a club and join a club in the January window," he added. "Normally you have to wait until the summer to add really quality players.
"But United have got to work at that, because we know that we need to improve to be where Manchester United want to be, so January's going to be an important part of the season."
