Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is planning to promote more young players to Manchester United’s first team next season.
Mason Greenwood, 18, and Brandon Williams, 19, made 71 appearances among themselves in their revolutionary campaigns and Tahith Chong, James Garner and Angel Gomes made several starts.
Gomes has concluded his contract with United, but Chong, 20, and Garner, 19, are still training with the first team in the midst of United’s run-in and are expected to go on loan next season.
Solskjaer recently added Teden Mengi and Ethan Laird, both 18, to the first team team and Mengi went to Aston Villa since Victor Lindelof was in doubt with a back injury.
“We just have to focus,” said Solskjaer ahead of United’s plans for the next term. “I don’t think for a second if another team is worried about us, we have to worry about ourselves.
“If we continue to improve and build an environment on the training ground and continue to develop culture, add one or two young people, perhaps add players who can challenge those we have here. Of course it’s exciting, but we can’t think so far.”
Jesse Lingard and Diogo Dalot have been involved in the FA Cup tie in Norwich since the season has started again and there are growing doubts about Lingard’s future, which has been out of contract next year.
Solskjaer made it clear that some young people would undertake loans, but did not offer clarity on the future of some of the older players. “You don’t really have the time or concentration. You can’t think of three months in advance with the players who are in and around the first team.
“Of course, there are young people you know who will go on loan, who need exposure, play time, but those who are in and around the first team now have only one goal, and this is Southampton, so it’s on the next one .
“We have to end the season strong.”
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