Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to figure out how to get two of Ruben Amorim's most expensive signings into his side if he returns to Manchester United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have a tough job on his hands if he returns to Manchester United(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Fitting £128million worth of talent into the team could be one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first dilemmas if the Norwegian is sworn in as Manchester United boss again.
The club legend is due to hold talks with the club this weekend with a view to taking over for the rest of the season. Michael Carrick is also in the frame to take charge before United appoint a long-term successor to the sacked Ruben Amorim in the summer, when more top-tier managers will be available.
Part of Amorim's downfall was his tactical stubbornness, which led him to persevere with a 3-4-3 formation featuring two No. 10s. Bryan Mbeumo (£65m) and Matheus Cunha (£63m) were signed for big money in the summer to fill those roles.
Under Solskjaer, United are likely to set up differently, creating a situation Ineos didn't envisage when they sanctioned the arrival of the pair. During his first spell as manager after replacing Jose Mourinho, he relied on more width, supplied by both full-backs in a flat back four and wingers, either side of a central striker and number 10.
His preference for wingers continued during his mixed eight-month spell at Besiktas. Solskjaer didn't get the personnel he needed in Turkey, which arguably contributed to his sacking in August after the Istanbul giants fell in the play-off rounds of both the Europa League and Europa Conference League.
Matheus Cunha celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Bournemouth.
Matheus Cunha was brought in primarily to play as a number 10(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Turkish football expert and Besiktas podcaster Kaan Bayazit felt Solskjaer was hamstrung by a lack of quality wide players. He told the Manchester Evening News: "It (the style of play) wasn't great. That was largely due to the limitations of the squad. The football was, at times, decent but never scintillating to watch.
"They only had one true winger. Right after Ole got sacked, they did bring in wingers but he never got to work with those players and I think that's the main reason for the team not being fluid under him.
"He was adamant about the fact that he needed wingers but never got the chance. I think he got the most out of the players for the most part, especially in the big games."
There is no reason why Mbeumo and Cunha could not play together under Solskjaer, but it probably won't be as part of a duel number 10 set-up. Mbeumo has spent most of his time at Brentford excelling as a right winger and is ready to adapt to different roles when required.
Bryan Mbeumo looks on
Bryan Mbeumo insists he is happy to play anywhere(Image: SmartFrame/SportImage)
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Following his arrival at Old Trafford, he said: "It’s up to the manager to decide. It’s important to be able to play in different positions, so I will play wherever I’m asked to play."
Mbeumo will be back in England soon after Cameroon were beaten 2-0 by Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations. However, current interim boss Darren Fletcher says he won't be involved against Brighton in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Fletcher said: "I don't think so. I think it's too close a turnaround, so we'll have the same players available for the game as we had against Burnley."
Cunha, meanwhile, presents perhaps a bigger issue. With Bruno Fernandes expected to take the sole No. 10 spot in a 4-2-3-1, quite where the Brazilian fits remains to be seen.