Five positions Manchester United need to address this summer - and the players they could sign

Backup Striker

Sporting CP v Boavista - Primeira Liga

If you’re wondering why United would go for another striker after the £75m purchase of Romelu Lukaku just over a year ago, the FA Cup final in May will provide all the answers. With the Belgian out through injury, there was a sudden lack of a focal point in attack to deputise for the striker and United’s attack faltered, causing them to lose the final.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic gone, United have no other alternative to Lukaku during a potential injury crisis or even for squad rotation. Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez both have past experience in playing that role but clearly do not fit the profile of a number 9 for the manager who is reportedly on the lookout for a second striker. The two names mainly linked with switches to Old Trafford have been Mario Mandzukic of Juventus and Marko Arnautovic of West Ham.

Mandzukic would provide the best possible option as he comes with a wealth of experience in Europe, including a wonder goal in a Champions League final. He can perfectly slot into the target man role to provide a focal point for United in Lukaku’s absence, and as witnessed at Juventus, can also play out wide. It is rather difficult to see him move to Manchester and surrender his starting berth in Turin for a role on the bench.

Arnautovic bares similar qualities to the Croatian and has had a great season with West Ham. But, with the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini, West Ham are on the cusp of a revolution and it would be difficult to prise him away from the London Stadium without paying a hefty fee. United will comfortably have to fork out a figure north of £50m for a 29-year-old secondary striker, which does not seem all too logical (yet possible).

Both Mandzukic and Arnautovic do not seem like plausible options due to a number of reasons such as transfer fees (for a second string player), wages and potential demands for a starting berth. And especially in Arnautovic's case, a lack of experience playing for a top club at the age of 29.

The ideal candidate could potentially be found in Mourinho’s native country Portugal in the form of 29-year-old target man Bas Dost. The former Wolfsburg striker could be a wildcard option for United for a number of reasons. Standing at six-foot-four, the Dutchman has been a prolific goal-getter for two seasons in Liga NOS and could be the ideal back-up for Lukaku keeping all variables in mind. He is unlikely to command a hefty wage bill and could be available on a cut-price fee due to the ongoing problems at Sporting Lisbon.

The Dutch International is also the same age as United target Arnautovic and is a whopping three years younger than Mandzukic. With Champions League experience and an amazing 27 goals and 3 assists in 28 starts for Sporting this term - and a career-best 34 goals and 4 assists just the season before - Dost appears to be an ideal deputy for Romelu Lukaku.