How far Solskjaer is from perfect Manchester United squad
While some Premier League managers are increasingly seeing the value in having smaller squads to work with, most still prefer the security of having at least two players for every position.
The ideal scenario for top six clubs is to have two XIs you could play and while there would always be some difference in the standards, managers would retain faith in the stand-in players in the event of injury or rotation.
When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer announced plans to rebuild the Manchester United squad last spring he might have had one eye on the end goal of having a squad for all seasons.
At that point that target looked a long way away, but two successful transfer windows later the days when the Norwegian has two strong United teams he can call on is edging closer.
If Solskjaer was to play a 4-3-3 twice in a week and change all 11 players from one game to the next, this is how he would want his ideal squad to look.
Goalkeepers
The goalkeeping picture will likely change again next summer, but for now the assumption is that Dean Henderson will spend the 2020/21 season out on loan once more, ahead of a final decision on who to back as United's long-term No. 1.
For now that honour remains in the hands of David de Gea, who is six appearances away from bringing up 400 for the club. He is given able support by Sergio Romero, who has shown no desire to depart despite clearly playing second fiddle and remains one of the best back-up goalkeepers in the league.
The modern way is to have three senior goalkeepers on the books and for now Lee Grant completes that triumvirate.
Squad: De Gea, Romero, Grant
Defenders
Solskjaer has used a back three at times this season, which might encourage him to keep an extra centre-back on the books, although it has usually been Luke Shaw who fills in on the left side of a three-man defence.
In the full-back roles Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Shaw have excelled recently, while Diogo Dalot and Brandon Williams offer support for now while both continue their own development.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have become a reliable central defensive partnership, although Eric Bailly has been making his presence felt since returning from injury in February and hopes are still high for 22-year-old Axel Tuanzebe.
If Solskjaer does want two players for every position then there is room to trim his defensive options, with Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo likely to find themselves edging closer to the exit door.
Squad: Wan-Bissaka, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Bailly, Tuanzebe, Shaw, Williams
Out: Jones, Smalling, Rojo
Midfielders
Again United already have plenty of midfield options, the issue is Solskjaer might be reaching the point where it's time to move some on.
Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira are both vulnerable having struggled this season and it would be no surprise if both were to depart in the next 12 months. Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata have both enjoyed good spells in 2020, but their contracts expire in 2021 and both may be of an age when the time is right then to say goodbye.
For now they remain in the squad, with Scott McTominay, Fred and Bruno Fernandes adding to midfield options, and it looks likely Paul Pogba will remain a part of the squad next season, given his options for a move have shrunk further recently.
With uncertainty over Matic and Mata long-term Solskjaer will be keen to add one new midfielder this summer, with another creative option such as Aston Villa's Jack Grealish top of the list. That would likely leave one more gap to be plugged in 2021 if both Matic and Mata do depart, or two if Pogba also leaves then.
Squad: Matic, McTominay, Fred, Pogba, Fernandes, Mata, New signing
Out: Lingard, Pereira
United are at least one body short in attacking positions and that will be two if Odion Ighalo's loan spell is just that and he returns to Shangai Shenhua.
The Nigerian has made the most of his short time at Old Trafford, scoring four times, but Solskjaer may well still look to a younger option to provide competition for Anthony Martial this summer.
There is also a vacancy on the wing, one United would quite like Jadon Sancho to fill. Marcus Rashford, Daniel James, Mason Greenwood and Martial are four reliable options, but there is more depth needed to complete the attacking side of Solskjaer's squad.
Squad: Rashford, James, Greenwood, Martial, Ighalo/New signing, New signing
Youngsters
Solskjaer can afford to cut the senior numbers in his squad thanks to the youngsters coming through at the club. Timothy Fosu-Mensah has one more season to prove he belongs at United, while Tahith Chong's new deal would suggest he is likely to be around the first-team picture next season.
Time is running out for Angel Gomes to commit his own future to United, but there are others in the positions between academy and first-team, such as Dylan Levitt and James Garner, who will hope to increase their own playing time next season and can provide cover where needed.
The ideal scenario for top six clubs is to have two XIs you could play and while there would always be some difference in the standards, managers would retain faith in the stand-in players in the event of injury or rotation.
When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer announced plans to rebuild the Manchester United squad last spring he might have had one eye on the end goal of having a squad for all seasons.
At that point that target looked a long way away, but two successful transfer windows later the days when the Norwegian has two strong United teams he can call on is edging closer.
If Solskjaer was to play a 4-3-3 twice in a week and change all 11 players from one game to the next, this is how he would want his ideal squad to look.
Goalkeepers
The goalkeeping picture will likely change again next summer, but for now the assumption is that Dean Henderson will spend the 2020/21 season out on loan once more, ahead of a final decision on who to back as United's long-term No. 1.
For now that honour remains in the hands of David de Gea, who is six appearances away from bringing up 400 for the club. He is given able support by Sergio Romero, who has shown no desire to depart despite clearly playing second fiddle and remains one of the best back-up goalkeepers in the league.
The modern way is to have three senior goalkeepers on the books and for now Lee Grant completes that triumvirate.
Squad: De Gea, Romero, Grant
Defenders
Solskjaer has used a back three at times this season, which might encourage him to keep an extra centre-back on the books, although it has usually been Luke Shaw who fills in on the left side of a three-man defence.
In the full-back roles Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Shaw have excelled recently, while Diogo Dalot and Brandon Williams offer support for now while both continue their own development.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have become a reliable central defensive partnership, although Eric Bailly has been making his presence felt since returning from injury in February and hopes are still high for 22-year-old Axel Tuanzebe.
If Solskjaer does want two players for every position then there is room to trim his defensive options, with Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo likely to find themselves edging closer to the exit door.
Squad: Wan-Bissaka, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Bailly, Tuanzebe, Shaw, Williams
Out: Jones, Smalling, Rojo
Midfielders
Again United already have plenty of midfield options, the issue is Solskjaer might be reaching the point where it's time to move some on.
Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira are both vulnerable having struggled this season and it would be no surprise if both were to depart in the next 12 months. Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata have both enjoyed good spells in 2020, but their contracts expire in 2021 and both may be of an age when the time is right then to say goodbye.
For now they remain in the squad, with Scott McTominay, Fred and Bruno Fernandes adding to midfield options, and it looks likely Paul Pogba will remain a part of the squad next season, given his options for a move have shrunk further recently.
With uncertainty over Matic and Mata long-term Solskjaer will be keen to add one new midfielder this summer, with another creative option such as Aston Villa's Jack Grealish top of the list. That would likely leave one more gap to be plugged in 2021 if both Matic and Mata do depart, or two if Pogba also leaves then.
Squad: Matic, McTominay, Fred, Pogba, Fernandes, Mata, New signing
Out: Lingard, Pereira
United are at least one body short in attacking positions and that will be two if Odion Ighalo's loan spell is just that and he returns to Shangai Shenhua.
The Nigerian has made the most of his short time at Old Trafford, scoring four times, but Solskjaer may well still look to a younger option to provide competition for Anthony Martial this summer.
There is also a vacancy on the wing, one United would quite like Jadon Sancho to fill. Marcus Rashford, Daniel James, Mason Greenwood and Martial are four reliable options, but there is more depth needed to complete the attacking side of Solskjaer's squad.
Squad: Rashford, James, Greenwood, Martial, Ighalo/New signing, New signing
Youngsters
Solskjaer can afford to cut the senior numbers in his squad thanks to the youngsters coming through at the club. Timothy Fosu-Mensah has one more season to prove he belongs at United, while Tahith Chong's new deal would suggest he is likely to be around the first-team picture next season.
Time is running out for Angel Gomes to commit his own future to United, but there are others in the positions between academy and first-team, such as Dylan Levitt and James Garner, who will hope to increase their own playing time next season and can provide cover where needed.
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