Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United did not recruit a replacement for Romelu Lukaku in order to prioritise the development of Mason Greenwood.
Lukaku, 26, completed a £73.7million move to Inter Milan on Thursday having scored 42 goals in two seasons for United. Greenwood, 17, made his full debut in the final game of last season against Cardiff after plundering 30 goals across the United junior teams and recently received a new squad number.
Greenwood netted twice on the pre-season tour of Australia and Asia and was not risked in the Under-23s' EFL Trophy win at Rotherham on Tuesday night ahead of Sunday's Premier League opener against Chelsea.
Solskjaer told the MEN in Perth last month: "If we sell players we will have to replace them." After United failed to replace Lukaku with Paulo Dybala or an alternative, Solskjaer focused on the potential of Greenwood.
"Towards the end of last season we didn't score a lot of goals," Solskjaer said when asked if the attack was better than last term. "And you do have players you think will make an impact. And Mason Greenwood's pathway would have been a lot more difficult, of course, if we had another forward there.
"So, for me, I believe Mason is going to be playing and involved a lot and when he is he'll score goals."
Lukaku did not play a single minute during United's pre-season schedule, partially due to an ankle injury the club said he suffered in Perth. Lukaku published sensitive training data in a Twitter video last week and went AWOL earlier this week when he was due to return to the club's Carrington training complex.
Despite an acrimonious end to the Belgian's United career, Solskjaer was diplomatic about Lukaku.
"It was time now for Rom to go," Solskjaer added. "Because I think we got a good deal. He's happy, so I think both parties ended that deal as it should be.
"Rom was injured for a while this pre-season, he didn't participate, so I just hope for him he'll get a good start at Inter Milan."
Many United supporters are unhappy the club ended the Premier League transfer window devoid of a midfielder and a forward. Solskjaer has remained optimistic throughout pre-season and suggested the squad does not feel the 'negativity'.
"Of course, we want to put that right," Solskjaer explained. "And the only way we can put an end to doubts is by playing good football, that's showing the team we want to be, the style we want to play and our fans when they see that intention have always been supporting the team.
"But within the team and the club, we're feeling very confident and we don't feel that negativity you're talking about."
