Erik Ten Hag is overachieving this season. Before the start of the season, not many predicted Manchester United to be in top-4, let alone any deep and successful cup runs.
Having stressed the ability to find “solutions” to cover for a depleted squad, it is imperative that Manchester United need to have a blinder of a transfer window to plug the holes in the squad. However, those plans are going to be tested by the club’s precarious Financial Fair Play situation.
There have been suggestions that most of United’s incoming will have to be funded by outgoings. Manchester United’s transfer list in the summer window could be long, with many players’ places under threat.
Still, the club will have to prioritise and fill urgent positions of need first. Here’s a look at what the order of priority should be for the club in the summer, position-wise-
Manchester United’s Top priority- Striker
If Manchester United signed only one player in the transfer window, it absolutely needs to be a top goalscorer. Rashford’s emergence as a goal threat has masked the glaring need for goals in this squad this season.
Erik Ten Hag went with the tried and tested in the summer by signing Wout Weghorst. For all his running and passion, it is now clear that he lacks the quality to be the main man for a title-challenging squad.
Patience is also running out with Anthony Martial who cannot be counted upon to play every game. Furthermore, he is prone to streaks of form, where he’ll score for consecutive games, followed by matches where he goes missing.
Manchester United know this. Of all the linked players, strikers have been the most common. Be it the breakout Portuguese Goncalo Ramos, an ambitious move for Victor Osimhen, or seeing closer to home in Harry Kane, the Red Devils are in urgent need of a focal point upfront.
A seasoned goalscorer will have the same effect on the team that Casemiro has had in the midfield.