Former Manchester United player Robbie Savage gives his verdict on Manchester United’s priorities in the summer transfer window
Former Manchester United player Robbie Savage, while writing in his column with the Mirror (h/t Manchester Evening News) speaks about the priorities for Manchester United in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Savage talks about the startling difference between United’s first-team squad and the lack of good quality squad depth, which was on display in the humiliating 5-2 defeat to Sevilla in the Uefa Europa League.
We were missing key players in Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Bruno Fernandes, and Alejandro Garnacho while Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw were not fully fit to start the game.
The difference in quality was laid bare and Savage believes that the priority for the club in the summer transfer window should be of getting a top striker and improving the overall quality of the bench,
“In midfield, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen both looked tired, and I’ve been banging the drum all season so I’ll bang it again: Manchester United need a No.9.
When Marcus Rashford is out, their goal threat is diminished. Wout Weghorst has been a useful stop-gap, but he is not the answer. Two goals in 25 appearances is not enough.
And Anthony Martial doesn’t score enough, either, even when United can keep him on the pitch. The gap between the first-choice players and the back-up personnel is startling. “
Ten Hag and his team should be commended for the work they have done and have individually improved players, many of whom were part of the disastrous last season.
In the end, however, the general quality of the squad is low as compared to the other top teams which are becoming more evident once we near the end of the season. One notable area of worry is the centre-forward position, with Wout Weghorst being our main striker yet scoring just two goals since joining us on loan in January.
The likes of Harry Maguire, Weghorst and even Anthony Martial due to his constant injury issues are not of the standard required to play for United week in and week out and hence need to be replaced by top quality.
It would have been a very different story against Sevilla had our key players not been missing and there is a fear that the upcoming tie against Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup semi-final could further deal a blow to what could have been a really good season.
Varane is still expected to be out while Martial also came off injured in the game. Rashford and Shaw could be touch-and-go with regard to their match fitness.
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Usually, the team has shown a good response post a defeat but this team the opponents in addition to the occasion could lead to a very bad week for the club. Hopefully, Ten Hag has a plan in place, players pick themselves up after an embarrassing showing and fight for the badge and giving us a ray of hope to be optimistic again.
