Reports in England claim Manchester United are set to follow Liverpool not to rival Chelsea as the Blues are poised to match Timo Werner’s £53million release clause.

According to the Evening Standard, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a big admirer of the RB Leipzig striker, who has agreed a move to Stamford Bridge, but United are prioritising other targets after securing an extension to Odion Ighalo’s loan deal.

Jadon Sancho remains at the top of Solskjaer’s wanted list – even after the financial impact of coronavirus forced him to review their spending this summer.

Werner was among a list of striker targets drawn up by United’s transfer committee, along with Moussa Dembele and Erling Braut Haaland. But Solskjaer believes the deal to keep Ighalo at the club until January has alleviated the need to bring in a top-class striker when the window eventually opens.

He also wants to see how Mason Greenwood develops over the next six months to see if the teenager can establish himself as genuine competition to Anthony Martial at the point of United’s attack.

United are continuing to monitor strike targets, but have opted against launching an official move for Werner, who now looks set to join top four rivals Chelsea for around £50million.