Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen believes his old club need to sort out their goalkeeping situation, sign a central defender and also attempt to sign Harry Kane this summer.
Jadon Sancho is United's top transfer target this summer after impressing in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund have set a deadline of August 10 for the transfer to be completed so the saga doesn't interrupt their pre-season preparations. However, that move has been described as 'artificial' by senior United sources since the transfer window closes on October 5.
The MEN understands United are willing walk away from a deal due to the German side's 'unrealistic' asking price, and that no transfer fee or personal terms with the England international have yet been agreed, but even if a deal were to be straightforward, Meulensteen believes United have more pressing areas of concern.
“They first need to solve and get clarity about the goalkeeping position because now there’s a debate about De Gea and the rumours with Schmeichel, but also Henderson is there,” he told talkSPORT.
“So that needs to be solved to make sure that’s clear. People are on De Gea’s back, but he’s still a very good goalkeeper; he’s had a few blips this season, he needs to sort that out.
“They also need someone next to Harry Maguire to strengthen that [defence]. ‘They’re bringing Jadon Sancho in, but more than anything, I would have gone for a more prolific out-and-out striker, somebody like Harry Kane.
“There is so much creativity coming from midfield with [Bruno] Fernandes, [Paul] Pogba, [Marcus] Rashford, [Anthony] Martial… they can all contribute to goalscoring.
“But [they need] somebody in the middle who’s going to score 25-plus goals. That will close the gap for United.”
