Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given the clearest indication Manchester United will not walk away from Harry Maguire, despite Leicester City’s £90million valuation.
United are locked in talks over the England international, with executive vice chairman Ed Woodward determined to reach a breakthrough before the transfer deadline on August 8.
Solskjaer also wants to add at least one midfielder and hasn’t been put off by Newcastle’s £50m asking price for Sean Longstaff.
But Maguire is the priority after the signings of Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka already this summer.
Solskjaer had hoped to have his business completed by now to give his squad chance to gel and get off to a flying start to the season.
But he is willing to bide his time to land his top targets.
“It will take time for any player to adjust to Man United,” he said. “We’ve got to be patient. It’s a long haul and very important we get the right ones in.
“We can’t just jump on a different path if we hit a hurdle. I’m not frustrated at all.
“When we’re working on something it’s because we’ve identified something that could improve us.”
Man Utd face Tottenham here in Shanghai on Thursday, looking to make it four wins out of four on their tour to Australia and Asia.
And even without any further additions, Solskjaer has been encouraged by what he’s seen after his side’s alarming collapse at the end of last season, which saw them win one of their last nine games.
“We’ve played well, performed well had some good results,” he said. “But it’s not about winning games in pre-season, it’s about finding a way we want to play to get to the starting line up and the team to be gelling.
“I think it’s important to start (the season) well, you give yourself a chance.
“It feels like a new start. We want to find a style on the front foot and it’s easier in pre-season than in the middle.
“We spoke about this over the last six months and we’re laying a foundation, physically and mentally, and the tour’s been very good as a team building one as well.”
