Former defender Paul Parker thinks there is no point for Manchester United to sign a forward before reinforcing the midfield unit
Manchester United are preparing for a mega summer, as INEOS look to rebuild the squad under Ruben Amorim after a catastrophic campaign.
With a complete rebuild underway, the Red Devils are poised to pursue reinforcements in multiple positions. One key area of focus is undoubtedly the attack. This is because of the team’s struggles in front of goal, with both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee largely proving ineffective.
Manchester United are in urgent need of a proven, ruthless striker this summer, someone who will not only score goals consistently but also mentor Hojlund and Zirkzee. In recent weeks, Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha’s name has been doing the rounds.
Ruben Amorim has seemingly identified Cunha as one of his top targets to bolster a toothless attack, after his exploits in a Wolves shirt that this season that has yielded 15 goals and six assists in 30 league games. It has been recently reported that the Man United chiefs are set to meet with the Brazilian star’s agents to discuss personal terms, with the player’s £62.5m release clause not expected to be a problem.
However, former Man United defender Paul Parker has publicly urged INEOS to prioritise the midfield over a new striker, insisting it is the area most in need of urgent reinforcement.
“The midfield [is the priority]. It has to be the midfield,” Paul Parker exclusively told Express Sport.
“And yes, a centre forward is needed, but there’s no point in just getting a centre forward if you can’t do anything with that midfield.”
The English pundit further states that the 20-time league champions must recruit “more athletic, disciplined players with big hearts” who can be composed in possession and provide base to a team that has often lacked control and energy.
“There are ones you would keep, but you’d go out, and you still look for more athletic players, players who play in a disciplined way,” he added.
“Ball retention would be [an important trait] so they can keep the ball better, as well as a team. And again, it’s athletic players with big hearts.
“That’s what you would look at Manchester United because they’re a team who have not got enough legs.”
Parker is bang on! United have lacked control, poise and incisiveness in the middle of the park. This has led to the Reds failing to dictate the tempo of games whilst being fragile for the opposition to cut through them multiple times this season.
As much as Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte’s partnership have brought stability and added a bit more muscle in midfield of late, Amorim requires a controlling, deep-lying playmaker who can run the show and create a base for creative talents such as Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Amad Diallo and Mount to thrive in advanced areas of the pitch.
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This is perhaps why the club are still interested in recruiting Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong, even after the sacking of Erik ten Hag. Indeed, De Jong is perfectly suited for the role Parker wants in the centre of the park at Old Trafford. As Barcelona do not want to part ways with the Dutchman, United could shift its focus toward Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka as a short-term option to solve their midfield conundrum.