Manchester United are in a good placed in terms of table positioning headed into the November international break, but the Reds still have a number of key issues which need addressing in the immediate future
Benjamin Sesko receives instructions from Ruben Amorim
Benjamin Sesko must come in good at Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United look to be on the verge of re-establishing themselves as genuine Premier League contenders after a decade of upset.
Despite a cagey start to the season under Ruben Amorim's stewardship, the Reds have started to come in good as of late, with that fateful 2-0 win over Sunderland back in October almost marking the start of a new era in the north west. United have managed to walk away from their last four outings since unbeaten, including a 2-1 win over fierce rivals Liverpool in the relenting fortress that is Anfield.
And while no-one is expecting Amorim to go on and win the league this season, there's certainly a buzz around Old Trafford and almost a sense of fresh start fever in the air. While Premier League fans would be right not to get carried away after 11 games, there seems to be a genuine possibility that United could reclaim their spot in Europe come season's end.
Considering a 15th-place finish last term, it seemed a herculean task when Sir Jim Ratcliffe laid out qualification to European competition as a target for 2026/27 - albeit marginally less farfetched than his audacious Project 150 plans.
However, with just a point currently separating the Reds from a spot in the Champions League as it stands, the possibility of returning to the continent's most prestigious footballing competition seems more and more real by the day.
With that being said, there are a number of deep seated issues within the club which need rectifying if United hope to maintain their current run of form in the Premier League which fans are already very well aware of...
Benjamin Sesko finds his stride
Many supporters and pundits alike were wise to the fact that United weren't receiving the finished product when they swept Benjamin Sesko away from RB Leipzig this summer in a £74million deal this summer. While the Slovenian international managed 13 goals in the Bundesliga last season, questions remained regarding how he would fare in the English top flight - one of the most physically demanding leagues in world football.
At just 22, inexperience was also cited as a cause for concern, with some speculating whether United were about to see history repeat itself by depending on the striker to lead the line without a senior figure to thrive off and learn from.
After all, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee found themselves in the exact same position last time out, managing just seven Premier League goals between them. While Sesko has already bagged two goals and an assist for his club this term, the youngster's numbers are a drop in the ocean when compared to historic goal machines that were deployed under Sir Alex Ferguson's coveted era at the reins - think Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie...
As things stand, Bryan Mbeumo is currently United's most prolific scorer in the league this season, finding the back of the net five times in total, while Casemiro is the club's next best with three from the heart of midfield. And if United are to truly thrive in their quest for securing European football for next season, Amorim may demand much more from his first-choice No. 9.
However, he may have to wait a little while for the summer signing to meet expectations, given the news recently broke that Sesko will miss at least November's cycle of international duty due to a knee injury sustained during United's 2-2 stalemate with Tottenham on Saturday. In-turn, he will remain at Carrington and be assessed further, as United fans hope and pray that his injury isn't too severe and he's fit to face Everton in a fortnight.
A £52m solution
It's no secret that one area in which United have struggled as of recent is in the heart of midfield, with a 33-year-old Casemiro unable to cover quite as much ground as he did during his Real Madrid heyday. And while the Reds looked to strengthen their engine room this summer with the acquisition of Carlos Baleba, their pursuit of the Brighton starlet ultimately bore no fruit, as a result of a hefty £100m price tag.
While Bruno Fernandes has adapted to a more central role rather than an attacking one as of late, there are still questions looming with regards to their suitability against more organised and composed sides. And while Amorim also has the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte to pick and choose from, it's evident that the Portuguese tactician doesn't quite recognise either as a starter at present.
Angelo Stiller points
Manchester United have been linked with Angelo Stiller(Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)
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Should United hope to truly strengthen the core of their squad come January, they would be wise to acquire a new central midfielder - a defensive-minded one in particular. And it appears as though the Reds are putting in the groundwork to do exactly that at present, linked with a move for VfB Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller.
As per reports, the German international is one of the names on a six-man shortlist of midfielders that United are currently examining. According to Fabrizio Romano, Jason Wilcox is a long-time admirer of Stiller and has monitored the talent for some time.
Rumoured to have a release clause in his existing contract, it is thought that the Bundesliga titans are likely to exercise their right to buy it out for around £1.7m and demand a fee of up to £52m for Stiller. Although, with that said, it's a little over half the price that Brighton were demanding for Baleba just a matter of months ago.
Diogo Dalot dropped
Amorim has been set on his patented 3-4-2-1 system since arriving at Manchester United a year ago, despite calls from fans and pundits to switch things up. Of course, the formation proved a catalyst for the club's lacklustre finish last term, albeit, Amorim was forced to utilise a squad largely inherited from Erik ten Hag with players who were, quite frankly, unsuitable.
While it appears as though Amorim's way of playing is finally proving fruitful, if United's recent run of form is anything to go by, Diogo Dalot has continued to struggle with the demands of the set-up, largely deployed out of position as a left wing-back. The Portuguese defender has found himself criticised this season for costly errors, with some fans and former players calling for Amorim to instead utilise Patrick Dorgu instead.
As per United District, Lee Sharpe highlighted weaknesses on the left-hand side of his former club at present. He said: "Both Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu have struggled at left wing-back for Manchester United this season. I've always thought Dalot is a bit sloppy in his decision-making at times – he gives the ball away cheaply and gets caught out of position defensively.
Diogo Dalot applauds
Diogo Dalot has struggled at left wing-back(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
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"I also don't think he gets close enough to wingers when they're crossing the ball, so there's a few things in his game that I feel need improving."
He added: "Dorgu looks like he could become quite a good player, but he's had a couple of injuries and is a bit inconsistent with his form, so he's not quite ready to be relied on just yet."
It's clear that should United hope to iron out any weaknesses at present, they may have to either adapt their style to Dalot's strengths, put faith in Dorgu, or explore the market in January for a proven wing-back.
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