KEY POINTS

  • Manchester United is targeting Joe Rodon
  • Rodon is a price-friendly alternative for Solskjaer
  • If Rodon signs, Koulibay and Upamecano are likely off the table

Manchester United top brass Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is figuring out how to make his team better but needs to do so with budget constraints. Among his targets include Kalidou Koulibay and Dayot Upamecano but both come at a cost. It appears he has found a cheaper and more sensible player to go after in Joe Rodon of Swansea City.

According to the Independent, the 22-year-old is now at the top of Solskjaer's wish list. He is considered a more logical signing compared to Jadon Sancho who holds a stiff asking price of roughly $150 million. Rodon is valued at $25 million, a whole lot cheaper unless Swansea raises that bounty. Should the Red Devils close a deal, that could likely cancel any interest of taking in Koulibay and Upamecano, for now.

Since arriving in 2018, Rodon has been performing impressively. He has made 46 appearances for The Swans. Rodon has two years remaining in his current deal but United could buy that out if Solskjaer can pull strings. Worth noting as well is that Ryan Giggs, co-owner of Salford City, recommended the 22-year-old to United, The Athletic reported. He seemed pretty impressed with Rodon, comparing him to a former teammate in Gary Pallister.

"It was the day after a game and we gave some players running drills, box to box. He was running with someone fast and went past them, effortlessly. I thought, ‘oh, I hadn’t seen that’" Giggs said.

Giggs was pretty impressed with the quickness of Rodon although his intense kind of play was also lauded. For him, it shows how a player wants to be at the best he can be. This is a player trait that Solskjaer would love to have at Old Trafford at a pretty reasonable price.

Solskjaer has a lot of players in mind but not all are plausible targets. Transfer fees will play a factor, especially with most teams trying to curb down expenses. The good news is that some contract issues have been settled. That includes the case of Odion Ighalo who will remain at Old Trafford until January 2021. There is also the possibility of seeing Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba back when football action resumes. Right now, Solskjaer may be applying the finishing touches - that of which is to add quality but cost-friendly players by the next transfer window.

Job done: Manchester United's comfortable win at Tranmere was a welcome relief for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Job done: Manchester United's comfortable win at Tranmere was a welcome relief for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer AFP / Paul ELLIS