The embodiment of a more considered and effective policy, Dan James can be the catalyst for a smarte

After the gargantuan appetite of inflationary pressure chomped its frightening jaws down on footballs transfer market, it has become near unachievable to find evidence of a club whose spending has been more erratic than Manchester United’s. Consecutive windows characterised by the archetypal ‘panic buy’, purchases defying common sense and the acquisitions of older players on inflated wages have done no more than damage the reputation for Ed Woodward, the clubs Executive Vice-Chairman. His now mainly illustrious list of managerial casualties have all had their reputations, especially in recruitment, damaged too.

Swansea City’s 21 year old wide man Daniel James represents a refreshing change in tack for United. On the surface, he appears to be an acquisition that both fits into United’s past and provides an exciting look at the floor plan for their future. Solskjaer, if to be believed, has identified a clear way in which United should play - an identity - and will recruit accordingly.

This correlation between recruitment, playing style and identity has perhaps been the key ingredient absent from United’s transfer strategy since David Gill’s departure.

Solskjaer must follow a path already trodden by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. In doing so, offering a clear and coherent playing strategy, which culminates into cohesive recruitment. When the German recruited players like Sadio Mané, Firmino, Milner and Wijnaldum it appeared scattergun and underwhelming, but it quickly became evident the key roles they fulfilled in different aspects of Klopp’s team. Mkhitaryan, Pogba and in particular the expensive Alexis Sanchez or Bastian Schweinsteiger did not fit either of José Mourinho or Louis Van Gaal’s plans, although it can be argued they were devoid of any such pathway in playing style.

It is now integral that Ed Woodward forgets the bane of United’s transfer activity in recent years; commercial marketability. It has been so much the focus of affairs in recruitment that the acquisition of marketable players has come before players who genuinely reflect Manchester United. He must service the needs of the team, and the system the manager wishes to implement; not service the commercial facets of the club.

Daniel James may be a mark of this beginning. Whether true or not, his directness, youthful exuberance and deftness of touch will offer genuine width in attack and may go some way in helping Solskjaer’s vision at the club. Woodward must now follow suit in every department of the squad.

Crucially, it will not be down to the calibre of each recruited individual player, but creating an environment conducive to cohesiveness in both on field play and within the culture of the squad.

Jamie Rybinski