Manchester United transfer news: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed backing for record-breaking summer spend

Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane top the shortlist as United prepare to spend hundreds of millions to back their new manager

Manchester United will back Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a huge outlay in the transfer market this summer, as they are determined to give him whatever it takes to succeed in the job.

The Norwegian was finally appointed on Thursday in a move that represented a huge about-turn from when he was installed as caretaker in December, and the club are highly conscious of the need to get this managerial tenure right after three qualified failures.

There is already feeling that Solskjaer is more in tune with their overall plans in the market - in contrast to Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal - as he is prioritising a young team with backbone, youth and speed. As such, United are willing to spend hundreds of millions this summer, and are prepared to break their transfer record if required.

The latter might be essential if they are to land their top two targets, of Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho and Real Madrid's Rafael Varane. United have at least been encouraged that interest in the two has not been rejected out flat, but both would individually cost over £100m.

Madrid have proven reluctant to even discuss long-term United target Varane in the past, but there is a sense that is changing for the summer, which has seen the French World Cup winner leap ahead of Internazionale's Milan Skriniar in their options.

Samuel Umtiti could represent an alternative option, too, given Barcelona would now sell the French international.

Among the other names United are looking at are Crystal Palace's Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is also being targeted as a long-term replacement for Ashley Young (Getty)

Gareth Bale is expected to be offered to the club but, after years of pursuing the Real Madrid forward, United are now unwilling to pay what would be a high fee and high wages. Such demands would have to come down significantly. There is similarly currently no interest in Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho.

United will meanwhile look to offload Alexis Sanchez to help regulate the wage bill, especially as David De Gea has not yet signed a new contract amid high demands. The goalkeeper wants to be made the best-paid player at the club.

United, meanwhile, are continuing their search for a Director of Football, but the process is taking longer than anticipated, and may not even happen in 2019 as they wish to get the specifics of the role exactly right.