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Manchester United had a lot of missed opportunities in the summer window, but Peter Schmeichel says two defenders who signed for PL clubs represent the biggest ones.
The lack of depth in the squad is exposing itself in the most brutal way for Michael Carrick and Man Utd this season as injuries dismantle the squad.
Carlos Baleba is the latest absentee after picking up a serious knock against Roma, but it is in defence that the problems are most severe.
As Carrick struggles to field a back four with four players in their natural positions, Peter Schmeichel has named two players who should have come to Old Trafford this summer.
Jeremy Jacquet and Van Hecke were perfect for Man Utd
Left-back was the most urgent need for United, but the fact that Ayden Heaven is having to play there, along with Leny Yoro at right-back, shows centre-back depth isn’t as much either.
Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire are on expiring contracts, and any appearance by Matthijs de Ligt is a bonus appearance.
Therefore, it fills Schmeichel with regret that two brilliant centre-backs joined rival PL clubs this summer while United sat on their laurels.
Jeremy Jacquet is taking the league by storm, surpassing all expectations for Liverpool, while Van Hecke is slowly coming into his own for Spurs.
Schmeichel said that at least one of these two should have signed for United.
He said: “I’d like to see some defenders coming in in January. That would be a godsend. There was a lot of defenders in the summer I thought would be well suited for Manchester United. We see one gone to Liverpool, Jacquet. I mean, he would have been fantastic for this football club. I thought that Van Hecke, who left Brighton to go to Tottenham, should have been someone that we should have looked at.”
The list doesn’t even end there, as Luka Vuskovic signed for Brighton from Spurs, who is also looking in great form and is still young.
It’s hard to argue against Schmeichel, even accounting for United’s financials, because the financial loss from not qualifying for the Champions League will be much bigger.
As it stands, United are left to rue what could have been after an underwhelming transfer window has given way to a disastrous start to the season.
Van Hecke and Jacquet walk straight into the current starting XI at Old Trafford.