Manchester United's priority has to be signing a striker in January.
Even before Cristiano Ronaldo parted ways with the Reds, the need to improve their forward options was clear. Scoring just 20 league goals this season and languishing on zero goal difference is nowhere near good enough should the club wish to be in the Champions League next season.
Now Ronaldo has departed, Anthony Martial is unchallenged as the first-choice centre-forward. He is in good form under Erik ten Hag but Louis van Gaal's concern about the Frenchman will still bother many United supporters.
Speaking in 2016, the then-United manager said: "I like him [Martial] on the wing, I don’t believe he is an out-and-out goalscorer like Ruud van Nistelrooy. In the future he might change, he certainly has the ability, but at the moment I see him as a wing player.
"He has had an excellent first season in England and he can only get better with age and experience. He can improve further, I can see things in his game that he can work on, but the best way to improve is to play at a higher level and that is what he is doing."
Of course, as Van Gaal suggested could be the case, Martial has adapted his game in the six years that followed those comments and is now more comfortable in the number nine role. But there is always that lurking suspicion that he may be better served on the wing.
This is a fear that many United fans now have about pursuing Cody Gakpo as a replacement for Ronaldo. Martial may have been able to adapt his game enough to suit playing as a centre forward, but there's a risk attached to such a tactic and asking Gakpo to do the same doesn't necessarily mean United would eventually see the best of the Netherlands youngster were he to move to Old Trafford.
Perhaps Van Gaal's comments are a warning for United to target a striker this winter instead of trying to mould a winger into a frontman.
AyanMike
0
I really don't know what Man Utd wants they were having a proven number 9 in CR7 but because of the ego that our coach had against CR7 he never wanted his team to play to his strengths while his looking for the long term future number 9. You will never have the number 9 who will be pressing when out of position and scoring lots of goals at the same time. Look around to all number 9 who are scoring goals week in week out they are not pressing like the way people say CR7 should its those players around that number 9 who are pressing to win the ball and pass it to their number 9 so he can score as may goals as he can. If CR7 was useless why will they be so desperate to fill his position. It's because the so called legend of Man Utd never wanted him and they make sure that the does the same and it's what teg hang did because he knew that if he side with CR7 he will not get support those legend who did not want to see CR7 having a successful second spell.
Ronaldo is old and can’t suit Ten Hag tactics remember we’re Manchester United we’re the season Ronaldo came, we were at second position that season before Ronaldo came, He came and took everything from United players even Sancho can’t play anymore as a new sighning, only Ronaldo scored all the goals, every United players got very poor just because of Ronaldo and we found ourself in 7-8 positions, Ole lost his job. Ten Hag came in and saw the problem is because of Ronaldo, chez all the matches Ronaldo started this season in premier league we lost all even the one he captains us we lost it, all the matches we won in premier league Ronaldo didn’t start them, tell me if you are the Coach will you continue playing Ronaldo to loss like Ole or bench him to win Ten Hag , Ole played Ronaldo and he lost his Job Ronaldo now praises him for that on his interview. Ten Hag knows Manchester problem and he is solving it, he knows Ronaldo is united one 1 problem out of 10, I never say his the only Manchester United problem, Ten Hag is trying to solve all those problems and we Manchester United real fans are noticing what great job his doing, Ten Hag is our best coach since Sir Alex Ferguson left that suit this club, Morinho, van ha, etc , they all knows Manchester United problem but can’t solve it, all the coaches that came had/sighed world class players but non of the can manage them or solve Manchester United problems, even Ronaldo said in him interview He can’t say Ten Hag is bad but he don’t respect him because he doesn’t respect him either, Ten Hag our best coach after Sir Alex Ferguson, he treat every player equally just like how Sir Alex does even Guadiola, Kloop, Artheta,they treat all players equally and all want to be the had not allowing players to be the head. That has been one of Manchester United problems out of 10. Even Guadiola said it that Manchester United are coming up, just like Sir Alex Ferguson United, seriously any Manchester United fan that is criticizing Ten Hag is not a real fan, me as a real fan am seeing the Best changes his doing example of Artetha arsenal coach he saw Aubameya is trying to be the problem he forced him out now see we’re arsenal is now, just like how Ronaldo was our problem from the first season he came, Ten Hag noticed it and continue to benched him, now Ronaldo is out from Manchester now you will see the best of Ten Hag tactics, Remember Guadiola recommended Ten Hag to Manchester city to be his successor when he was doing very well in Ajax before he now decided to face the challenges of becoming a Manchester United coach, any fan criticizing Ten Hag is a fake fan GGMU ❤️
Kihalmnpt
0
Sign Ivan Toney
boybcdikop
0
I believe Martinez of inter is the best , quick and skilful. would be fun if the utd first team consist of 3 Brazilian and 3 argentinian. osimhen is good too but problem is when there is the African cup, utd might miss their key striker for up to 2 months. south American and European qualifiers, competition mostly fall roughly at the same time.
Agree
Viobltyz
1
I really don't know what Man Utd wants they were having a proven number 9 in CR7 but because of the ego that our coach had against CR7 he never wanted his team to play to his strengths while his looking for the long term future number 9. You will never have the number 9 who will be pressing when out of position and scoring lots of goals at the same time. Look around to all number 9 who are scoring goals week in week out they are not pressing like the way people say CR7 should its those players around that number 9 who are pressing to win the ball and pass it to their number 9 so he can score as may goals as he can. If CR7 was useless why will they be so desperate to fill his position. It's because the so called legend of Man Utd never wanted him and they make sure that the does the same and it's what teg hang did because he knew that if he side with CR7 he will not get support those legend who did not want to see CR7 having a successful second spell.
I never knew some people were this stupid. so you wanted ETH to baby sit CR7's ego for what? Is he bigger than the club? No. It just was not happening this term for that CR7 guy and he started blaming everything around him. Think and analyse before you write this nonsensical essay
kingpnk
0
I really don't know what Man Utd wants they were having a proven number 9 in CR7 but because of the ego that our coach had against CR7 he never wanted his team to play to his strengths while his looking for the long term future number 9. You will never have the number 9 who will be pressing when out of position and scoring lots of goals at the same time. Look around to all number 9 who are scoring goals week in week out they are not pressing like the way people say CR7 should its those players around that number 9 who are pressing to win the ball and pass it to their number 9 so he can score as may goals as he can. If CR7 was useless why will they be so desperate to fill his position. It's because the so called legend of Man Utd never wanted him and they make sure that the does the same and it's what teg hang did because he knew that if he side with CR7 he will not get support those legend who did not want to see CR7 having a successful second spell.
this comment is halirious you know a cr7 ass kisser when you see them
Mimacdeiko
0
Don’t move to Manchester united, move to arsenal or chelsea
Kkrexuke
0
I believe Martinez of inter is the best , quick and skilful. would be fun if the utd first team consist of 3 Brazilian and 3 argentinian. osimhen is good too but problem is when there is the African cup, utd might miss their key striker for up to 2 months. south American and European qualifiers, competition mostly fall roughly at the same time.
HassandyAchile
0
I really don't know what Man Utd wants they were having a proven number 9 in CR7 but because of the ego that our coach had against CR7 he never wanted his team to play to his strengths while his looking for the long term future number 9. You will never have the number 9 who will be pressing when out of position and scoring lots of goals at the same time. Look around to all number 9 who are scoring goals week in week out they are not pressing like the way people say CR7 should its those players around that number 9 who are pressing to win the ball and pass it to their number 9 so he can score as may goals as he can. If CR7 was useless why will they be so desperate to fill his position. It's because the so called legend of Man Utd never wanted him and they make sure that the does the same and it's what teg hang did because he knew that if he side with CR7 he will not get support those legend who did not want to see CR7 having a successful second spell.
how can someone just wasted his time wrote all this rubbish meaningless essay
Funcmptuyz
3
I really don't know what Man Utd wants they were having a proven number 9 in CR7 but because of the ego that our coach had against CR7 he never wanted his team to play to his strengths while his looking for the long term future number 9. You will never have the number 9 who will be pressing when out of position and scoring lots of goals at the same time. Look around to all number 9 who are scoring goals week in week out they are not pressing like the way people say CR7 should its those players around that number 9 who are pressing to win the ball and pass it to their number 9 so he can score as may goals as he can. If CR7 was useless why will they be so desperate to fill his position. It's because the so called legend of Man Utd never wanted him and they make sure that the does the same and it's what teg hang did because he knew that if he side with CR7 he will not get support those legend who did not want to see CR7 having a successful second spell.
Nitackmnou
0
Well martial legs are too big to move that is just his problem here at United so van gal should just keep quiet because you are a failure here too
Couceikmt
0
pls marshal is a very lazy player don't compare him to Gakpo we want Gakpo not marshal who is injury prone one step forward twenty back ward.
pudbdmnopy
3
I prefer oshimen
Klef122
6
There’s big difference between them Martial is a good player but injury’s prone abs lazy While gakpo is a hustler I will like Utd to sign him