5 areas where Manchester United need to strengthen next summer

With the 2017/2018 season almost halfway done, Manchester City are already looking like champions-elect while Manchester United leads the chasing pack.

We look at 5 areas where Jose Mourinho could look to strengthen his squad next summer to challenge for the title.

#1 Left-Back

Ashley Young is United's current left-back

Ever since Patrice Evra decided against staying at the Theatre of Dreams for another year, and left for Juventus, left back has been a problematic position in the Red Devils' squad.

Many players have been signed to replace the veteran Frenchman, however, none have shown the level of consistency required to play for a club of United's caliber.

With Luke Shaw, Matteo Darmian, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Ashley Young in the squad, Jose Mourinho has a plethora of players who can occupy the position although none of them have been able to make the spot their own.

Since Alex Ferguson's reign at the helm, United have played with full backs providing genuine width and aiding the wingers in attack, the team needs a world class left back who can put in the level of performance required to match the club's ambitions.

Danny Rose is one player that Mourinho would be looking at. With the player unsettled at Tottenham Hotspurs, he has been linked to Manchester United in the January transfer window.

#2. Right-Back

Valencia has been consistent for United at right back

Even though Antonio Valencia is one of the first names on the team sheet and the team's best players, he turns 33 at the start of next season and will not be around forever.

The mercurial Ecuadorian has received plaudits for his level of consistency, bombing down the right wing time and again. It is easy to forget Valencia has played the best part of his career further up the pitch, as a right winger, and used to don the famous No.7 jersey at Manchester United, usually given to an attacker with special abilities.

The Red Devils do not have a genuine back-up to Valencia, and this shows whenever Jose decides to rotate his squad. Matteo Darmian, albeit featuring on the Serie A team of the year in 2014 and 2015 has failed to replicate his performances for the Manchester club despite showing early promise.

Manchester United need a right back next summer, who can play as a back-up or eventually replace Antonio Valencia in the team.

Fabinho is a player that could be brought into the team from Monaco, with his versatility to play at right back and midfield being an asset to any manager.

#3. Attacking-Midfielder:

Jose Mourinho still has doubts over Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Much has been made of Henrikh Mkhitaryan's performances on the pitch this season. The Armenian has fallen out of favor at Old Trafford and is in Jose Mourinho's bad books.

There is talk of a bust-up between the two, with Mourinho not happy with the amount of defensive work Mkhitaryan puts in during matches. Juan Mata is another player who can play as a genuine No.10, however, the Spaniard has been played wide on the right-hand side, drifting in on occasion.

The current occupant of the position, Jesse Lingard, is performing well, however, supporters still remain wary of his level of consistency and ability to perform against the bigger clubs in Europe. Hence, the Red Devils need an advanced playmaker in their squad, supplementing an attack featuring Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford, and Anthony Martial. Fed with the right delivery, United's attackers have the ability to find the net on a regular basis.

With Mesut Ozil refusing to sign a new contract at The Emirates, he is a player that Jose Mourinho will be looking to buy after the two worked together at Real Madrid.

#4. Winger:

Gareth Bale should be United's primary target

The lack of a genuine winger in the squad has often left the Red Devil's handicapped... Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, both of whom are already converted strikers, play their best football on the left wing.

This often leaves Antonio Valencia alone to attack down the right, as either Juan Mata or Jesse Lingard play at the right wing and keep drifting inside behind the striker. Such imbalances in attack need to be fixed soon if the club is to challenge for major trophies.

Already missing out on Ivan Perisic in the summer, Mourinho will be looking to bring in a top-class player to play on the wing and with Gareth Bale largely plagued by injuries at Real Madrid, Florentino Perez will be looking to offload the Welshman next summer. Manchester United should surely be the ones to sign him up.

#5. Striker:

Lukaku is United's only consistent striker

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic unlikely to continue at Old Trafford after this season, his departure will leave the club short of players up front.

Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford mostly feature at the left wing, and hence Manchester United need to bring in a striker who can feature alongside or as a back-up to Romelu Lukaku.

Jose Mourinho will be looking in to bring an experienced striker capable of leading the line, also sharing the goal-scoring burden with Lukaku to keep up with title-rivals Manchester City, who already boast 2 top strikers in their squad in Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.

Andrea Belotti is one such player who could fit the bill, after being linked to the Red Devils.