Breaking Down Where Manchester United Need to Strengthen Their Squad This Summer

Jose Mourinho’s arrival has strengthened Manchester United in the place where strengthening was most needed—the dugout. Now, though, comes the task of reinforcing the Red Devils on the pitch, a task which will involve many more moving pieces.

Let’s take a look at each area of United’s squad and consider where it is most in need of patching up.

 

Goalkeeper

Assuming the status quo can be maintained, no additional work is needed here. In David De Gea, United’s three-time player of the year, the Red Devils have one of the world’s best goalkeepers.

Perez still doesn’t sound convinced the Bernabeu fax machines are up-and-running #mufc https://t.co/qmOeSgCLoM

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) June 1, 2016

Of course, he was on the verge of leaving at the end of the 2015 summer transfer window, and if he goes, he will need to be replaced. Sergio Romero is a fine second choice, but relying on him as No. 1 would be a mistake.

Verdict: No change needed, for now.

 

Defence 

United’s most urgent need at the beginning of the last transfer window was for a new, top-quality central defender. Louis van Gaal did not act on that need, preferring to opt for a partnership of Chris Smalling and Daley Blind. In the end, that may well have cost United Champions League qualification.

Received wisdom would sometimes seem to have it that United’s defence performed well this season. They conceded just nine goals at home in the Premier League, the fewest of anyone in the division.

However, between De Gea’s brilliance and the fact that Van Gaal’s side spent two-thirds of the season playing with two holding midfielders in the most defensive-minded, safety-first setup in living memory at Old Trafford, it is hard to give the centre-backs themselves too much credit.

They both had excellent periods of the season—Smalling in particular was a legitimate contender for “player of the first half of the season,” should such an award exist.

But when they were threatened, when the system was a little more open, they looked a lot less impressive. Away from home United conceded 26 goals, only scoring 22—negative goal difference on the road highlights the extent of the failings in the setup.

Centre-back errors were at the heart of losses to Swansea City, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Man United transfer report: Barcelona want #MUFC midfielder Daley Blind in £13m deal https://t.co/2Ei6U9CTjp pic.twitter.com/WHj9LHSr0i

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) June 1, 2016

Blind exceeded expectations, but relying on him as a first-choice centre-back for another season would be a serious error. Smalling’s performances in the calendar year of 2015 were almost universally impressive, but ideally he would be the second-best defender in a partnership rather than the senior man.

And back-up options are limited. Phil Jones clearly cannot be relied upon given his injury record. Marcos Rojo has struggled to impress at full-back, though his centre-back performances in 2014/15 would suggest he could serve as useful cover.

Elsewhere, academy prospects like RoShaun Williams would certainly have been considered cover under Van Gaal, but it seems unlikely Mourinho will rely on that option.

So, improvements to the first XI and squad options are required at centre-back. At left-back, no such improvements are necessary. Luke Shaw is the obvious first choice and Cameron Borthwick-Jackon’s new …

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