Owen Hargreaves insists Manchester United must have focused on strengthening in midfield before spending so heavily in attacking areas throughout the summer transfer window.
United spent over £200million ahead of the brand new campaign with most of that money spent on bringing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko to the club with Senne Lammens arriving in goal on deadline day.
A move for Carlos Baleba was explored but United ultimately shelved their interest with Brighton’s valuation, in the surplus of £100million, placing him out of their reach.
United were desperately in need of goals last season with only the three relegated clubs and Everton scoring lower than them.
Bringing in Cunha and Mbeumo, who scored 15 and 20 top flights goals for Wolves and Brentford last season respectively, was a way to deal with that problem.
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Ruben Amorim’s side have improved in attack but their struggles in the course of the park proceed with Bruno Fernandes now occupying a deeper midfield role with Cunha and Mbeumo often occupying the 2 no10 roles with Mason Mount also within the equation.
Fernandes’ influence has waned consequently with United also often exposed in midfield transitions.
Former United star Hargreaves believes his old side must have stopped after Cunha when it got here to strengthening their options behind the striker, insisting that cash must have been spent on a brand new midfielder.
‘Bruno is their best player by a rustic mile then they go and sign two no10s to play in his position,’ Hargreaves said, speaking on The Breakdown with TNT Sports.
‘And he has to play as a defensive midfield player almost. I appreciate you needed more goals, they [United] have thought more goals will get us higher up the table than say a world class goalkeeper.
‘But actually, you’ve got one of the best no10 within the division with Cole Palmer, and also you drop him [deeper] because you wish someone to play through midfield because you’ve got Cunha and Mbeumo.
‘So why didn’t you simply sign a central midfield player to play there and let Bruno do his thing with Cunha? Then a goalkeeper. It will have fixed a whole lot of issues.’
Victory over Sunderland before the international break lifted United as much as 10th place.
They head to Anfield to tackle Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
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