The imminent signing of Daniel James marks a shift in Manchester United’s transfer strategy - and has Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s fingerprints all over it.

The Wales winger was undergoing a medical at Carrington on Thursday ahead of the formal announcement of his move from Swansea next week.

The fee is expected to rise to £22m with add-ons.

It is the first tangible evidence of a dramatic about-turn in United’s recruitment strategy – instigated by Solskjaer before he was even appointed permanent manager in March.

The Norwegian had already impressed executive vice chairman Ed Woodward with his vision of United’s future when still caretaker.

In the absence of a technical director or manager, Woodward sought Solskjaer’s counsel over summer planning, even when Mauricio Pochettino was still favourite to be appointed Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor.

And it was those talks – as well as United’s outstanding form in the first three months of his reign – that convinced the club’s hierarchy that he was the man to revive Old Trafford’s fortunes.

Solskjaer told Woodward the club needed to be better at spotting the next generation of stars – but ones that could also make an immediate impact on the squad.

Rather than going down the route of paying huge sums for readymade recruits – he wanted to United to develop their own stars, be it through the academy or savvy spending.

Given Woodward’s admiration of Pochettino – who has done precisely that at Tottenham – Solskjaer’s words will have struck a chord.

United’s transfer record has been shambolic since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement – and the manner in which they squandered the talent of his final signing, Wilfried Zaha, has proved a very costly error.

The signing of James is right out of Ferguson’s playbook – a home-grown, flying winger with ample talent to nurture.

The same could be said of Zaha when he arrived at Old Trafford from Crystal Palace, only to get caught up in the churn of players at United over the past six years.

The Man Utd players who should leave… and the ones they cannot lose 27 show all The Man Utd players who should leave… and the ones they cannot lose 1/27 Our Manchester Football Correspondent James Robson considers which Man Utd players should leave this summer… 2/27 David de Gea Can United really afford to risk losing him for nothing at the end of next season. If he won’t sign a new deal this summer, it might be time to cash in.



VERDICT: Sell (if he doesn’t sign) Getty Images 3/27 Sergio Romero Probably the best reserve keeper in the Premier League. Never lets United down – and would have a case to be No1 if De Gea goes.



VERDICT: Keep PA 4/27 Lee Grant Third choice keeper, who allows the highly-rated Joel Pereira to get experience on loan.



VERDICT: Keep Manchester United via Getty Images 5/27 Joel Pereira There are great hopes for him, but needs regular game-time to establish himself.



VERDICT: Loan AFP/Getty Images 6/27 Victor Lindelof One of United’s most improved players this season and someone Solskjaer should look to make the bedrock of his rebuild. Needs a top class partner to bring the best out of him.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 7/27 Eric Bailly So much hope for him when he arrived, but a debilitating injury record, along with his rash decision-making have curtailed his progress.



VERDICT: Sell Man Utd via Getty Images 8/27 Phil Jones Just signed a new long-term contract – and despite widespread derision, remains a valuable squad member.



VERDICT: Keep Man Utd via Getty Images 9/27 Chris Smalling Like Jones, eyebrows were raised when he was handed a new deal, but has impressed alongside Lindelof and remains an effective option.



VERDICT: Keep Action Images via Reuters 10/27 Marcos Rojo Woeful injury record and has failed to convince on the increasingly rare occasions he makes it onto the pitch. Long contract and high wages make him difficult to offload.



VERDICT: Sell Getty Images 11/27 Ashley Young His form has fallen off a cliff since signing his new contract recently. Can only be considered as back-up full back next season.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 12/27 Diogo Dalot Has shown promise – particularly as an attacking option this season – but remains raw defensively. United’s interest in Aaron Wan-Bissaka points to his failure to establish himself.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 13/27 Antonio Valencia Out of contract and on the way out. It has been a miserable final chapter for the winger-turned-right back as a virtual spectator this season.



VERDICT: Release AFP/Getty Images 14/27 Luke Shaw Has probably enjoyed his most consistent season. Still developing and should establish himself as one of the best left backs in Europe, given his natural talent.



VERDICT: Keep REUTERS 15/27 Matteo Darmian There’s an argument to say he’d be better back-up Young. But United could get decent money for a player who has rarely been anything other than a fringe member of the squad.



VERDICT: Sell PA 16/27 Ander Herrera He’s out of contract and on his way to Paris Saint-Germain. Would have been worth keeping – but not on a weekly wage of around £200,000-a-week.



VERDICT: Release Getty Images 17/27 Paul Pogba He’s not consistent enough, but he’s a player to build the team around. At his best, he’s proven he’s world class – he just needs the quality around him.



VERDICT: Keep PA 18/27 Juan Mata United have never seen the player who was so effective for Chelsea. Had his moments, but just too slow to fit in with Solskjaer’s plans. Out of contract, it’s time to go.



VERDICT: Release REUTERS 19/27 Andreas Pereira United have triggered a one-year extension on his contract, so now it’s up to him to prove he deserves a longer deal.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 20/27 Fred So far his greatest contribution to United has been the fact that his name conveniently fits into ‘Ole’s at the wheel.’ By any reasonable measure, you’d be looking to sell on the basis of his first season, but Solskjaer can’t get rid of everyone.



VERDICT: Keep (for now) Getty Images 21/27 Nemanja Matic Looks to be in decline and turns 31 in August. Can do a job, but questionable whether he can be a regular starter next season.



VERDICT: Keep Action Images via Reuters 22/27 Scott McTominay Has shown glimpses of the potential United’s coaches have long seen in him. Definitely a decent option next season, if not yet ready to be part of Solskjaer’s strongest midfield.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 23/27 Jesse Lingard Has made his critics eat their words. Fast, good touch, eye for goal and versatile – he offers so much to United’s attack and is only likely to get better.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 24/27 Alexis Sanchez His move from Arsenal has been little short of a disaster. An injury-plagued campaign haven’t helped – but he’s looked miles off the pace whenever he’s stepped onto the pitch.



United desperately need to find someone to take him off their hands – but on £450,000-a-week…



VERDICT: Sell Getty Images 25/27 Romelu Lukaku Still has a decent strike rate and will take some replacing – but he just doesn’t fit Solskjaer’s system.



United would hope to get close to the £75m he cost them – but how far will that money go when it comes to finding a striker good enough to lead their attack?



VERDICT: Sell AFP/Getty Images 26/27 Marcus Rashford Has established himself as Solskjaer’s leading man – but desperately needs to improve his finishing and decision making. So much and technique on the ball, but doesn’t look like a natural goal-scorer yet.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 27/27 Anthony Martial For a spell this season he looked every bit the heir to Thierry Henry that he was once considered. But Solskjaer has rarely been able to get a tune out of him and is frustrated by his failure to score ugly goals. Still, he has tremendous potential.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 1/27 Our Manchester Football Correspondent James Robson considers which Man Utd players should leave this summer… 2/27 David de Gea Can United really afford to risk losing him for nothing at the end of next season. If he won’t sign a new deal this summer, it might be time to cash in.



VERDICT: Sell (if he doesn’t sign) Getty Images 3/27 Sergio Romero Probably the best reserve keeper in the Premier League. Never lets United down – and would have a case to be No1 if De Gea goes.



VERDICT: Keep PA 4/27 Lee Grant Third choice keeper, who allows the highly-rated Joel Pereira to get experience on loan.



VERDICT: Keep Manchester United via Getty Images 5/27 Joel Pereira There are great hopes for him, but needs regular game-time to establish himself.



VERDICT: Loan AFP/Getty Images 6/27 Victor Lindelof One of United’s most improved players this season and someone Solskjaer should look to make the bedrock of his rebuild. Needs a top class partner to bring the best out of him.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 7/27 Eric Bailly So much hope for him when he arrived, but a debilitating injury record, along with his rash decision-making have curtailed his progress.



VERDICT: Sell Man Utd via Getty Images 8/27 Phil Jones Just signed a new long-term contract – and despite widespread derision, remains a valuable squad member.



VERDICT: Keep Man Utd via Getty Images 9/27 Chris Smalling Like Jones, eyebrows were raised when he was handed a new deal, but has impressed alongside Lindelof and remains an effective option.



VERDICT: Keep Action Images via Reuters 10/27 Marcos Rojo Woeful injury record and has failed to convince on the increasingly rare occasions he makes it onto the pitch. Long contract and high wages make him difficult to offload.



VERDICT: Sell Getty Images 11/27 Ashley Young His form has fallen off a cliff since signing his new contract recently. Can only be considered as back-up full back next season.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 12/27 Diogo Dalot Has shown promise – particularly as an attacking option this season – but remains raw defensively. United’s interest in Aaron Wan-Bissaka points to his failure to establish himself.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 13/27 Antonio Valencia Out of contract and on the way out. It has been a miserable final chapter for the winger-turned-right back as a virtual spectator this season.



VERDICT: Release AFP/Getty Images 14/27 Luke Shaw Has probably enjoyed his most consistent season. Still developing and should establish himself as one of the best left backs in Europe, given his natural talent.



VERDICT: Keep REUTERS 15/27 Matteo Darmian There’s an argument to say he’d be better back-up Young. But United could get decent money for a player who has rarely been anything other than a fringe member of the squad.



VERDICT: Sell PA 16/27 Ander Herrera He’s out of contract and on his way to Paris Saint-Germain. Would have been worth keeping – but not on a weekly wage of around £200,000-a-week.



VERDICT: Release Getty Images 17/27 Paul Pogba He’s not consistent enough, but he’s a player to build the team around. At his best, he’s proven he’s world class – he just needs the quality around him.



VERDICT: Keep PA 18/27 Juan Mata United have never seen the player who was so effective for Chelsea. Had his moments, but just too slow to fit in with Solskjaer’s plans. Out of contract, it’s time to go.



VERDICT: Release REUTERS 19/27 Andreas Pereira United have triggered a one-year extension on his contract, so now it’s up to him to prove he deserves a longer deal.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 20/27 Fred So far his greatest contribution to United has been the fact that his name conveniently fits into ‘Ole’s at the wheel.’ By any reasonable measure, you’d be looking to sell on the basis of his first season, but Solskjaer can’t get rid of everyone.



VERDICT: Keep (for now) Getty Images 21/27 Nemanja Matic Looks to be in decline and turns 31 in August. Can do a job, but questionable whether he can be a regular starter next season.



VERDICT: Keep Action Images via Reuters 22/27 Scott McTominay Has shown glimpses of the potential United’s coaches have long seen in him. Definitely a decent option next season, if not yet ready to be part of Solskjaer’s strongest midfield.



VERDICT: Keep AFP/Getty Images 23/27 Jesse Lingard Has made his critics eat their words. Fast, good touch, eye for goal and versatile – he offers so much to United’s attack and is only likely to get better.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 24/27 Alexis Sanchez His move from Arsenal has been little short of a disaster. An injury-plagued campaign haven’t helped – but he’s looked miles off the pace whenever he’s stepped onto the pitch.



United desperately need to find someone to take him off their hands – but on £450,000-a-week…



VERDICT: Sell Getty Images 25/27 Romelu Lukaku Still has a decent strike rate and will take some replacing – but he just doesn’t fit Solskjaer’s system.



United would hope to get close to the £75m he cost them – but how far will that money go when it comes to finding a striker good enough to lead their attack?



VERDICT: Sell AFP/Getty Images 26/27 Marcus Rashford Has established himself as Solskjaer’s leading man – but desperately needs to improve his finishing and decision making. So much and technique on the ball, but doesn’t look like a natural goal-scorer yet.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images 27/27 Anthony Martial For a spell this season he looked every bit the heir to Thierry Henry that he was once considered. But Solskjaer has rarely been able to get a tune out of him and is frustrated by his failure to score ugly goals. Still, he has tremendous potential.



VERDICT: Keep Getty Images

Solskjaer has already mined United’s academy – giving opportunities to James Garner, Tahith Chong, Mason Greenwood and Angel Gomes.

Scott McTominay will also be given the opportunity to establish himself as part of United first choice midfield next season.

But Solskjaer won’t stop there. He has enlisted scouts to watch a wide range of emerging talent from the more established in Jadon Sancho, James Maddison, Declan Rice and Aaron Wan Bissaka – to the lesser known Sean Longstaff and Nathan Collins.

Solskjaer reluctantly accepts Sancho may be out of reach in his first transfer window – likewise Rice.

Interest in Maddison remains tentative at this point, while they would be reluctant to go above £50m to sign Wan Bissaka.

No official bid has been made for Longstaff yet, but their pursuit of the Newcastle midfielder remains ongoing.

While Solskjaer’s summer business is not expected to be limited to emerging British talent, he is addressing an area he believes United have overlooked in recent times when they’ve become focused on marquee signings, who have underperformed.

He wants to bring in as many as five new additions as part of his squad overhaul – and it looks increasingly likely that James will be followed by more Brits.

Interest in Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix are evidence of his intention to still pursue the best talent abroad – while Christian Eriksen’s potential availability will also put United on alert.

But it is his first signing in James that could offer the most significant pointer to Solskjaer’s reign and what direction he plans to take United in.