Manchester United have reportedly identified Alassane Plea as a transfer target and will continue to keep tabs on him in the Bundesliga in the coming weeks. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is leading the search for a new centre-forward at Old Trafford this summer.

The Red Devils are unlikely to spend big though given the implications the coronavirus crisis may have on the transfer market.

Ed Woodward announced yesterday that the club are now facing debts of up to £429million.

It’s a situation that he labelled “one of the most extraordinary and testing periods in the club’s 142-year history.”

Nonetheless, the work continues to try and recruit the best players in world football while the club await the all-clear to resume Premier League duties.

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According to French outlet FootMercato, the United recruitment team have been keeping tabs on the Bundesliga following its return to action last weekend.

One player they have picked out in Borussia Monchengladbach’s Alassane Plea.

The Frenchman was on target for his side in the early stages of their 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Plea has nine goals to his name in 29 appearances this season in all competitions.

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He has been a key part of Marco Rose’s side’s success this season, as they remain the fourth horse in three-horse title race.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will have to be careful of Gladbach in the coming weeks, particularly considering Plea has returned in fine form.

Solskjaer is adamant his side are now on their way upon reflection of his first 18 months at the helm.

He hinted this week that moving both Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku on to Inter Milan last summer has done the squad morale the world of good.

“I’d rather have a hole in the squad than an a*******,” Solskjaer said.

“Personality is so important. We’re a team in a team environment.

“You want players to have a bit of ego and edge but they have to be able to adapt.

“In March 2019, players were physically tired, mentally tired and we had injuries. The players started with negative thinking, whereas now it’s positive thinking.

“There were other things I didn’t like last year, some personal agendas which couldn’t be sorted out until the summer.

“There will always be players who want to play more in football, but if a team is to be successful then players have to be available at different times. I feel in this group we don’t have one bad apple.”