- Signing a new centre-forward should have been Manchester United’s priority
- But so far they have brought in a midfielder and are trying to sign a goalkeeper
- This means that Erik ten Haag may have to get creative with his current options
Everyone thought that signing a new striker would be Manchester United’s number 1 priority in the summer transfer window.
After all, the need for a proven goalscorer to spearhead United’s attack became glaringly obvious during Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge.
Despite Marcus Rashford’s best efforts, United have managed just 58 goals in their 38 Premier League games, significantly fewer than their rivals around them in the table.
Embarrassingly, it was just one more campaign than the 2021-22 campaign under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, considered United’s worst in the Premier League era.
Yet, to the surprise of many, the Ten Hag and United’s hierarchy have targeted other areas for improvement so far this summer.
Mason Mount’s £60m arrival from Chelsea has undoubtedly boosted the midfield – with the Ten Hag welcoming him after his debut in Wednesday’s 2-0 friendly win over Leeds.
United are also looking for a replacement for goalkeeper David de Gea and are in talks with Inter Milan for Andre Onana, who could cost them in excess of £50m.
So, given that the Ten Hag’s budget for new signings is just £120m, there is very little money left to sign a much-needed striker.
A pursuit of England star Harry Kane was quickly ruled out after Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy demanded more than £100m for the player, who is out of contract after 12 months.
Napoli hotshot Viktor Oświęcim was even more expensive and United were no doubt a bit stunned by Atalanta’s £86m valuation of Dane Rasmus Hoylund, another Ten Hag target.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani is also in talks, a cheaper alternative.
However, Paris Saint-Germain could rival them for both players amid uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s future there.
There is plenty of time to go, of course, and the Ten Hag’s transfer kitty could swell with player sales, but as it stands, they will start the new season without a genuine, proven centre-forward.
This means Ten Hag may be forced to get a little creative.
Trust the unreliable Martial
Anthony Martial has gone through several new dawns under different managers in his eight years at United, so you can’t completely rule out another.
The 27-year-old Frenchman, who has not hit the heights everyone hoped he would in a red shirt, is entering the final year of his existing contract.
That, along with a very varied injury record, means he is certainly a player United will be listening to offers for this summer.
But if they don’t sign another striker, they may be forced to keep Martial, who at least wears the number 9 and is capable of playing as one.
He scored nine goals in all competitions last season but suffered a string of injuries and so completely lacks the reliability you need.
He has only once topped 20 goals in a season for United and, realistically, they need someone who can guarantee that number and more.
If Martial is leading the line for United again in September after the window closes, you really have to wonder if there is progress.
Move Rashford into the middle
Playing mainly on the left, Marcus Rashford enjoyed his best season for United to date.
His 30 goals made all the difference between Ten Haag’s first year being positive and being more of the same old drift and decay at the club.
Given Rashford’s form and his preference to play on the left, where he can take on players and get inside to shoot, you would be reluctant to move him.
But if Martial isn’t available and no one is bought, the Ten Hag could move him to center.
Rashford played centrally on several occasions last season, United have Jaden Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho as ready-made substitutes on the left and Rashford is likely to get you plenty of goals again.
Sancho knows he can give more to United, but Garnacho has enjoyed a great breakthrough season and shown he is willing and able to beat defenders.
So the change would make sense, but the question is whether you would really want to gamble on the happiness of your main attacking threat and pile more pressure on him.
Free the wings!
In Oslo on Wednesday, in the absence of the unfit Martial, Ten Hag opted to play Sancho as a false nine, flanked by youngsters Omari Forsson on the left and Amad on the right.
You really can’t read too much into the first game of pre-season, which saw most first-team regulars absent, but simply unleashing all the speedy wings on the opposition could be the plan.
Imagine Sancho in the middle with Rashford on the left and Antony on the right, all three tasked with causing absolute chaos by simply running straight at defenders from all angles.
The tactic may have its merits, although finishing may be the problem. Sancho couldn’t capitalize on a simple chance when he was brought on by Hannibal Maybry on Wednesday, again underscoring the need for a true centre-forward.
You also need point difference in the front line and that can easily become a big part of the lot if everyone is basically just sprinting and dribbling.
Mimic Pep’s false nine
Pep Guardiola made Manchester City famous without a recognized centre-forward a few years ago when Gabriel Jesus didn’t fire after the departure of Sergio Aguero.
The City boss kept opposition managers guessing as he rotated between Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez in a ‘false nine’ role.
If Ten Hag, who worked alongside Guardiola at Bayern Munich, wanted to be really inventive, he could do something similar at United.
Bruno Fernandes would be best placed to fill the role given that he reliably gets into scoring positions anyway. He could lurk on the edge of the box and dart into it to meet the serve from a wide angle.
New boy Mount could also be a good candidate given that he sometimes played as a false nine at Chelsea, looking for space and opportunities in central positions.
A combination of Fernandes and Mount, with perhaps Casemiro and Christian Eriksen behind them, could cause a lot of headaches.
Will both achieve your desired goals over a long period of time?
Reintegrate Greenwood
If United fail in their efforts to sign a new striker, one potential but far from direct backup could be to bring Mason Greenwood back into the squad.
Charges against the 21-year-old of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behavior and assault were dropped in February, but United’s internal investigation into Greenwood continues.
A decision on his future at the club is expected soon and it is possible that he could be sent out on loan to a foreign club for the upcoming season.
It emerged last week that he could be used as a back-up in the Atalanta deal for Hoylund, although his future is very uncertain.
Greenwood has been working on his fitness levels and was pictured training with United team-mate Anthony Elanga.
He has not played a game for United since January last year and there is known to be resistance to his return to the club.
But if United decide to reintegrate him, Greenwood will offer Ten Haag an option as a centre-forward.
Although many of his early appearances for the team were on the right wing, his finishing ability was such that a move to a centre-forward position was always a possibility.
After so long out of the game and so many consequences, you sense that Greenwood’s recovery would be a last resort if United fail to land any of their attacking targets.