Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United reboot needs a kick start.
And Newcastle’s exorbitant £50million valuation of Sean Longstaff is evidence of just how difficult it will be for the Norwegian to complete his planned overhaul with less than a month remaining in the transfer window.
Solskjaer wants to bring in a minimum of two more signings before the August 8 deadline – but that figure will grow if Romelu Lukaku or Paul Pogba are successful in securing the departures they so desire.
Given the protracted negotiations for United’s only two summer signings so far – Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka – time is seriously against him.
Solskjaer wanted his business to be completed before his squad flew out here to Perth on Sunday.
Instead he landed in Australia knowing the two most expensive signings in the club’s history – Pogba and Lukaku – want out, with Nemanja Matic also considering his future.
Meanwhile, leading targets Harry Maguire and Longstaff are in danger of being priced out of moves to Old Trafford.
Within the club there is a sense of dismay regarding the negativity surrounding their summer business at this early stage of the window, with even Solskjaer addressing disenchanted supporters in his first pre-season press conference.
“The loudest ones are probably not the best fans,” he said.
But he is dealing with the hangover from six years of transfer window disappointments, false dawns and empty promises.
He will be desperate to avoid a repeat of the last time United summered Down Under when Ed Woodward (below) announced he was returning to the UK on urgent transfer business, only to leave then-manager David Moyes desperately scrambling to complete a deadline day deal for Marouane Fellaini.
Moyes’ one and only disastrous summer window in 2013 defined his short-lived Old Trafford reign – and United have never recovered from the ground lost in that first season after Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Solskjaer is adopting a back to basics approach – targeting young, domestic talent and eschewing the marquee transfers that have become the hallmark of the Woodward years.
Which is why the figures being quoted for his relatively modest wish-list have left the club so stunned.
“We're Manchester United,” he said. “We don't have to sell and don't have to overpay.
“You have to have the right players at the right price.”
Time will tell.
James’ price went up from £10m when Leeds were interested in January, to a potential £22m if all of his add-ons are met after completing a move to Old Trafford this summer.
United planned to start their bidding for Wan-Bissaka at around £25m – but ended up making him the most expensive defender in their history when Crystal Palace held out for a total fee that will rise to £50m.
With little competition for either player, United have still been forced to pay top of the market prices.
Now they are refusing to meet Leicester’s £90m valuation of Maguire (below) and don’t want to pay more than £25m for Longstaff.
In a seller’s market, it remains to be seen if chief negotiator Matt Judge can strike the right deals or if Solskjaer will have to make good on his promise to walk away from over-priced targets.
To compound his frustration, his recruitment struggles are being set against Inter Milan’s refusal meet United’s demand of £80m for wantaway striker Lukaku, while Real Madrid are yet to get anywhere near the £150m it will take to prise Pogba away.
There is no need for Woodward to take any urgent flights this summer, with the executive vice chairman still in London and not due to join up with the club’s tour until they reach Singapore or Shanghai.
On Thursday he was trying to thrash out a deal with Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio over Lukaku, with United sources maintaining anything other than a straight cash offer is likely to be rejected.
Deals for Lukaku and Maguire are now considered the priority – but looking at Solskjaer’s squad during an open training session at the WACA on Thursday, it only underlined the amount of work required before the season kicks off.
Solskjaer claimed after the humiliating 4-0 defeat to Everton in April that certain players “won't be part” of his United rebuild - yet every member of the 18-man squad that featured at Goodison Park remains at the club.
The sense of unease within the club appears to have been acknowledged by Woodward, who took the step of issuing an internal memo to staff, assuring them of more business to come.
He wrote: “Despite the inflated nature of the transfer market and constant speculation and stories, which can be misleading, the recruitment team – in conjunction with the manager – are working calmly behind the scenes to bring in other exciting players that fit with their long-term vision for the club.”
The frustration over the time taken to conclude transfers has been felt among targets, as well as fans.
United have so far adhered to a one-by-one approach, leaving potential signings hanging on for deals to be struck.
Longstaff had hoped to be in place for the start of the tour – but a formal approach to Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley didn’t come until last weekend.
Woodward was stunned to discover the Tyneside club’s £50m asking price and made it clear it was well in excess of what United are prepared to pay.
While it’s believed the valuation was a case posturing by Newcastle – United have ended up paying in the region double their opening offers for James and Wan-Bissaka.
The latter of those deals is said to be framing Charnley’s expectations regarding Longstaff, who United hoped would be among the easier transfers to conclude during this window.
Instead he has only added to the uncertainty that is gripping Solskjaer’s squad in such a pivotal summer.
