Man Utd draw up four-man transfer wishlist including Jadon Sancho and Harry Kane

A penalty shoot-out defeat to La Liga outfit Villarreal ensured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's wait for a first trophy as Manchester United manager rolls on into the 2021/22 campaign.

Despite an impressive season that saw United go unbeaten away from home and comfortably secure Champions League football for next year, there undoubtedly be disappointment over the way their campaign finished after Europa League final heartache.

A stunning penalty shoot-out that saw all 20 outfield players score their spot-kicks before United shot stopper David de Gea saw his effort saved meant the Red Devils trophy drought sits at four years – their last taste of silverware the 2017 Europa League.

In a bid to ensure the run doesn't continue, Solksjaer has reportedly been given the green-light to oversee a huge summer of spending, with Jadon Sancho, Declan Rice, Harry Kane and Pau Torres all rumoured to feature on the wishlist.

Bagging all four is unlikely given the transfer fees alone would set United back more than £300m, but just two of the four names mentioned would likely transform United's fortunes and make them a serious title contender next season.

Speaking in the aftermath of the Europa League final defeat on BT Sport, club icon Rio Ferdinand stressed the importance of shrewd business this summer.

The former United stalwart said: "This window is massive, it’s a massive window for Man United now.

"The recruitment team, the owners, the CEO, the manager, the staff need to go out and recruit the right players that fit the bill, to take this team from getting to finals and can’t get over the line, to finishing the job."

Ferdinand continued, claiming that it is paramount United identify the right targets, following the example of fierce rivals Liverpool: “It needs to be the right people, the right characters, and good enough players that add value to this team.

"For instance, we always talk about Van Dijk being the catalyst for Liverpool over the last few years. What had he won in England before? He was at Southampton, they weren’t fighting for titles or in Europe.

"It’s the right characters, the right people who fit the team, the right profile to take you on and make the team better."

Owen Hargreaves, talking alongside Ferdinand, claimed that the pain of the final defeat may actually be a blessing in disguise, potentially being the catalyst to spark huge spending.

Hargreaves claimed: "Yeah, you’re right, (the loss was for the best) because if they had won, that might have papered over the cracks and maybe you don’t really go out and get (signings).

"But now Ole might think they need three or four. That game, it needed someone to come on and make a difference."

The ex-United and Bayern Munich star did go on to explain how the Red Devils are just a few signings away from being a top side, "For me, that’s all they need. That will cost you a few quid, but the fact of the matter is, when you know exactly what you need, it’s easier to go out and get it, whoever that’s going to be.

"If they can do that this summer, Sancho, Varane or Marquinhos, or Declan Rice, there are targets there that can make that United team better."

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