Manchester United will need to break the bank in a £260million summer spending spree on Harry Kane, Jadon Sancho and Declan Rice.
The January signing of Odion Ighalo and Bruno Fernandes has helped massively, with United yet to lose since the Nigerian striker and Portuguese midfielder has joined. In fact, the Red Devils are on a nine-game unbeaten run.
But the signing of three players in key positions could see United challenge City and Liverpool for the major trophies next season and could possibly affect Ighalo’s contract extension.
That's the view of former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, who reckons Tottenham striker Kane, Borussia Dortmund winger Sancho and West Ham midfielder Rice could take Solskjaer's side to the next level.
“I'd break the bank for Kane even though he's injured at the moment,” Murphy wrote in his column for the Mail.
“I don't think a hamstring represents a risk like a cruciate would. He's as close to a guarantee for scoring goals as you'll find in the game and, the way he lives his life and conducts himself, he'll keep going.
“Kane would cost £100m and so would Sancho at Dortmund. But they have the quality United require to make the next jump.
“If they had a front three next season of Sancho, Kane and Rashford with Martial, Dan James and Mason Greenwood in reserve, it would be a strike force befitting a big club.”
Murphy said United could raise funds to sign Kane and Sancho by selling midfielder Paul Pogba and goalkeeper David de Gea.
He also urged United to sign 21-year-old Rice from West Ham, saying: “I liken him to Jordan Henderson because of his athleticism, power and attitude.
“Having a really top midfield holder to protect the back-four is important in the modern game. It's why Manchester City spent a club-record £65m on Rodri.
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“United have Nemanja Matic but Rice will be around for the next decade. He'd allow Fernandes and Scott McTominay to express themselves.”
This article was most recently revised and updated 5 years ago
