Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has identified two key areas where his former club fell short during the summer transfer window.
The former striker believes United failed to adequately address their striker situation beyond the signing of Benjamin Sesko, leaving the squad exposed up front.
Rooney made his feelings clear on the Stick to United podcast, pointing to the No 9 role and the full-back position as the two areas where United made mistakes this summer.
“I just felt, and the Everton game showed me what I felt as well, they [United] were the better team, had a lot of control in the game, but a lack of a No 9, so for whatever reason Sesko is not fully fit, he missed pre-season,” Rooney said.
He added: “[They’re] lacking a No 9, full-back position in terms of competition for places.”
Sesko is still a young player who is adapting to the demands and intensity of English football, and he will need time to become a reliable and prolific option for the club.
Without an established backup striker, United are heavily reliant on Sesko hitting the ground running, which represents a genuine risk given that he missed pre-season through injury.
United’s focus during the summer window was primarily on strengthening the midfield, which meant other areas of the pitch were left with thinner squad depth than many expected.
The full-back position is another area of concern, with Luke Shaw’s well-documented injury history meaning the club cannot rely on him to remain available throughout the entire season.
United were linked with Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall during the window as a potential solution to their left-back problem, but ultimately no deal was completed to bring in a replacement.
Without proper competition for Shaw’s position, United face the prospect of being stretched defensively if he suffers further fitness setbacks over the course of the campaign.
The January transfer window will now be seen as a potential opportunity for the club to address the gaps that Rooney and others have identified in the current squad.
Whether United move decisively in January to bring in a striker and a full-back could prove crucial to how competitive they remain across all competitions in the second half of the season.
