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Manchester United’s new season has hardly gone according to plan. The Red Devils have failed to impress and even though it’s too early in the season, a top-four finish is looking difficult to achieve.
The Red Devils actually had a fiery start to the season, blowing away Chelsea 4-0 at Old Trafford and showcasing terrific firepower within their ranks. Since then though, the optimism of the summer is gone. Two draws and a loss in their last three games sounds bad, but when one considers the teams United faced in those 3 games – Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace and Southampton, the results indicate a worrying trend.
United didn't replace their outgoing players in the summer transfer window and they are suffering the aftereffects of it already. A little more activity in the transfer window would have gone a long way in defining their season, however, that chance is gone now.
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As such, January cannot come soon enough for the Red Devils. United should indulge in the winter transfer window and solidify these 3 positions to turn their season around.
#3 Central midfield
Manchester United lost a vital player from their ranks when Ander Herrera made the move to PSG in the summer. The Red Devils were wrong to let the Spaniard leave, but since it was an action that could not be avoided, United should have immediately plunged in the transfer market to sign a replacement. Sadly, that did not happen.
The season so far has already shown that not signing a replacement was a huge mistake. The Red Devils clearly lack a proper central midfielder to support and aid Solskjaer’s fast and fluid football right now. Scott McTominay has been the ideal choice, but the Scottish midfielder provides very little in attack. Nemanja Matic is slow and static, while Fred, the only other choice, is unreliable, to say the least.
Just imagine a double pivot of Herrera and Pogba or a midfield three of Pogba, Herrera and McTominay and one can realize what United are missing right now.
As such, United should opt for a proper central midfielder in the winter, even if it costs them a fortune. Ruben Neves of Wolves should be the ideal choice, while Declan Rice of West Ham United would also suffice. Unless the Red Devils sign a central midfielder in January, things could get really ugly at the business end of the season.
#2 Right wing
The right side of the attack has been Manchester United’s bane for quite a while now. However, the Red Devils decided not to sign a right-winger in the summer. As a result, Solskjaer’s attack are heavily one-sided right now, which often makes United’s decisions in the final third predictable.
All of Solskjaer’s forward players prefer the left side of attack, from where they can cut inside and shoot at goal. Marcus Rashford has been used in the left forward role, while Daniel James has carried out the right forward role so far this season. However, against Southampton, the Welshman showed that he can be menacing if used in his preferred left forward role. Solskjaer’s only options for the right hand of attack, apart from James, are Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata, both of whom have failed to impress.
Manchester United’s lack of a proper right-winger has also affected the forward runs of Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The Englishman has often looked isolated in attack in absence from support from a proper right-winger.
As such, the Red Devils must buy a right-winger in the winter, in order to restore balance in the team. With a right-winger hugging the touchline, Manchester United could finally unleash the full potential of their youthful attack and their rampant right back.
#1 Attacking midfield
After Solskjaer changed to the 4-2-3-1 system over the summer, it was clear that Manchester United needed a proper attacking midfielder in the team. The Norwegian has been using Jesse Lingard in the position, but the Englishman has constantly failed to impress. Juan Mata was used in his preferred role for the last game before the international break. Unfortunately, the Spaniard no longer has the legs to sustain Solskjaer's heavy pressing football.
The current United team also has a alarming lack of creativity in their ranks. Apart from Paul Pogba and Juan Mata, few players in the team have the ability to break down the opposition defence. This problem has been evident so far this season and the Red Devils have been short of ideas against teams who sat deep against them.
As such, United have to buy an attacking midfielder in the winter. James Maddison was courted by the Red Devils in the summer and he would be a fine addition to this season. Christian Eriksen could also be persuaded to make the move from London to Manchester.
The attacking midfielder could be the final jigsaw in Solskjaer's puzzle and the arrival of a gifted technician operating in the hole behind the attacker, would help the United forward line break their shackles.
