Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken out on Manchester United’s deal for Raphael Varane.
The United manager says he believes the deal to be ‘sorted’, and to go through without a hitch. United announced the deal on Tuesday night.
There will be one knock-on effect. Solskjaer has confirmed Axel Tuanzebe will leave the club on loan.
Solskjaer was speaking after United’s pre-season friendly draw with Brentford at Old Trafford.
Tuanzebe has started all three pre-season games. But once Varane arrives, he will be down to fifth choice, behind the France international, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Eric Bailly.
There is interest in Tuanzebe. Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United have been linked by The Telegraph. He previously took him out on loan at Aston Villa.
This could be a good move where Tuanzebe could play regularly and still one day have a future at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer did elaborate on Varane, telling the club website: “He’s a proven winner and a player we’ve followed for many, many years. I know Sir Alex was very, very close to signing him and this time around we’ve got him at the other end of his career.
“He’s proved over his whole career what a good person he is, first of all. [He’s a] professional and he’s won all there is to win.
“From what I know, the club is working on the quickest possible solution to get everything sorted. I don’t know the timescale on it yet. Of course, there is a visa coming into England, with Brexit and quarantining. Everything has to be done as quick as possible, but by the book.”
Jones also coming back
Solskjaer’s mention of Phil Jones is the first of this summer. He has not been back at pre-season, after missing the entire 2020/21 campaign due to injury.
Jones does not have a future at United, so the objective here is simply to get fit enough so that he can resume his career elsewhere.
Quirkily, if he does play in the under-23s, he could form an odd over-age backline alongside player/coach Paul McShane.
Jones would likely be let go for free, although United may have to settle for a loan, with a club paying a percentage of his wages.
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