Man Utd faced Everton in the final match of the Premier League Summer Series.
Ruben Amorim prioritised attacking improvement in the summer transfer window, but it will take more than that if Manchester United are to fulfil their ambitions for next season. It won't take much for United to improve on their showings of the previous campaign, and club chiefs have targeted a top six finish as they aim to get the club back on track.
United must walk before they can run, though they are still fully committed to 'Project 150' and their aim to win the Premier League title in 2028 to celebrate their 150th anniversary as a club. If all goes to plan, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo will be part of that squad in just three years, but it will take more than them to transform this side into title-winners.
Although they won the Premier League Summer Series with a scrappy draw against Everton, the match was reminiscent of last season as United struggled with the physicality of a defensive side that invited them to try and break them down. For all the pre-season optimism, club captain Bruno Fernandes didn't hold any punches as he launched a damning verdict on the performance.
Read More
“It’s improving. But it’s not the place it needs to be. I don’t want to take a dig at anyone, but the club is doing the best they can in terms of the financial situation they talk about,” he said. “But it was crystal clear we needed more competition for the players that were here, more quality to get everyone to step up a little more to get to the XI, and I think that is what the club are trying to do. Hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that.”
United have made it a priority to add a striker to their side in the final month of the summer window, but Fernandes is well aware that investing in the attack counts for little if you don't strengthen elsewhere. It's like buying a new sofa when your living room roof leaks.
What was also apparent from the Everton draw was that they do not have a suitable back-up goalkeeper to deputise for Andre Onana and the central midfield pairing still needs a lot of work. The goalkeeper issue is particularly pertinent in a season when Onana will be involved in Africa Cup of Nations duty, while there are also doubts over his long-term suitability to the role. The Cameroonian is expected to get a further full season to prove his worth at the club, though Amorim is still concerned about his suitability to his style of play and the number of errors he has made.
The midfield pairing of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte shone in the comfortable win over an underwhelming West Ham side, but regressed in the Everton draw against more physical opponents. There will be games in which it works next season, though it would be naive to think the duo is capable of playing that well against every side.
Amorim would like to add another midfielder to his squad before deadline day, though it might not be enough to address the magnitude of their issues in the position. They are overstocked in the attacking midfield roles and only have one natural central midfielder in Mainoo, with huge concerns over both Casemiro and Ugarte.
Fernandes would like one or two more signings, but it seems like United needs at least three.
Continue Reading