Manchester United have blown hot and cold this season, a season where manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is rebuilding the team as well as the ethos of the club. The Red Devils have not got off to the best start in the Premier League and have fallen way behind the top 4 in the table. But, the club is in transition and the current manager needs a few more transfer windows to set things right.
Solskjaer could bring in players in the January transfer window to strengthen the side, which lacks depth at the moment.
Let’s look at areas Manchester United should strengthen in the January transfer window:
Striker
Manchester United sold a 20+ goal striker in Romelu Lukaku in the summer but did not replace him, which has left them toothless up top. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have looked good when played together, but the former has not been consistent, while the latter has been injury-prone.
The club doesn’t have another first-team striker leaving Solskjaer with 18-year-old Mason Greenwood as his only alternative in case he wants to make any change upfront. They will need to bring in a top-class striker in the January transfer window and have been heavily linked with Norwegian sensation Erling Braut Haaland. The club was also linked with experienced Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic.
It will be an interesting wait in January as United’s current predicament points towards possible business in the attacking sector even if it is a short-term fix.
Central midfield
Another area that United have not strengthened since the departure of two players in the same position is midfield. Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini left United in the last two transfer windows, but the club did not bring in a new player.
Instead, they chose to play youngster Scott McTominay and still have hopes on last season’s summer signing Fred, despite a poor first season. The uncertain United future of Paul Pogba further highlights the importance of signing a central midfielder. United need a player who can control the tempo of the game from midfield as well as be a good distributor.
Left-back
When Manchester United signed Luke Shaw a few years ago, many expected him to be an integral part of the club for the next decade or so. But, it hasn’t quite worked out for the English left-back as injuries and inconsistent performances have plagued him throughout his time in Manchester, leaving United shortchanged on numerous occasions.
Ashley Young has been used in that position, but he, too, has not been good enough while also coming to the end of his career. Brandon Williams has pleased United fans in his first few performances, but it is too early to predict how his United future will turn out.
The Red Devils need a strong, attacking full-back, who can link well with the likes of Marcus Rashford ahead of him on the left and that is an area they might address in the upcoming transfer windows if not in January.