Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United star, has raised criticisms regarding the club's transfer strategy, asserting that the team needed to sign new forwards during the summer. Rooney believes that Manchester United's focus on strengthening the midfield, while they should have been bolstering the attack, is a mistake.
Summer Transfer Costs
Last summer, Manchester United spent around £150 million to acquire players such as Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba. However, the club did not decide to make an offer for Lewis Hall from Newcastle, who was seen as the main target for the left-back position. Last summer, the club had spent over £200 million to sign Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo.
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Lack of Options in Attack
Rooney emphasized that Michael Carrick, the Manchester United manager, still does not have enough options in attack and needs to bring in a new striker to Old Trafford. He said: "When the transfer window closed, I was surprised that we didn't sign more players. This is disappointing. I thought last season that they needed a number 9."
Rooney also pointed to the performances of players like Cunha and Mbeumo, stating that these players cannot shape the game for others on their own. He said: "Cunha needs a player to play alongside him. He can't be the one to involve others in the games."
Need for Reinforcement in Various Positions
Rooney believes that Manchester United needs players who can push the ball forward and apply pressure on the opponent. He also expressed concern over the absence of Amad Diallo, a young and talented player, saying: "We desperately need Amad. He is someone who can take the ball and move towards the opponent's defenders. We don't have players in the team who are the best passers."
Ultimately, Rooney pointed to the team's depth, stating: "The depth of the team is currently not great. Mason Mount has never been able to perform well in a Manchester United shirt. We don't have players who think in games that if they don't perform well, they might be out of the starting lineup. This is problematic in the current state of the team."
Rooney also added: "I think Michael Carrick is definitely pushing for more players to be signed. You don't know what the club's financial situation is. But I think we have focused too much on the midfield and have not paid attention to other areas that needed strengthening. This is a mistake."
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