Former manager Ron Atkinson has identified the most important area Manchester United need to strengthen in the upcoming transfer window in order to be considered title challengers.
Atkinson, who was predecessor to Sir Alex Ferguson, thinks Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to prioritise a striker with similar traits to Tottenham’s Harry Kane if they are to close the gap on bitter rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
“I think they need a top striker, I think if they got a top striker they would be the main challengers to Manchester City and Liverpool next season,” he told beIN SPORTS, as quoted by the Metro.
“I think they’ve got decent players in other positions and what he seems to have got is a decent attitude now amongst the players.
“But I think they’re short of a van Nistelrooy, a van Persie, that type of player that guarantees a number of goals at the end of the year. Somebody that can combine and play with Marcus Rashford, that would good.
“You’ve got Martial to come in and supplement that but I do think they need whoever it is… all the talk about Harry Kane. I’d be very surprised if they got him but somebody of that ilk that will guarantee before the season starts if he plays his games he’s going to finish with 25 goals.”
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A centre forward to provide competition to the improving Anthony Martial should certainly be high on Solskjaer’s to do list as he continues to shape his rebuild at Old Trafford.
The possibility of signing Kane is extremely remote and 23-year-old Lyon striker Moussa Dembele appears a more attainable option.
But Solskjaer will be realistic and while an addition of a prolific forward will help his side progress, it is hardly the only missing piece in the jigsaw.
United are a staggering 37 points behind Jurgen Klopp’s runaway leaders Liverpool in the league table and several areas need addressing before the Reds can compete domestically.
Solskjaer should also focus on signing a right-winger to provide balance to his side; it has been well documented that Jadon Sancho is the club’s leading target in the position.
A central midfield signing in the calibre of Ajax’s Donny van de Beek would also help the Reds improve in attacking transition.
