Former Manchester City and England midfielder Trevor Sinclair believes poor recruitment in the summer is a big factor in Manchester United's current malaise.
The Red Devils have endured a torrid start to the 2021-22 season, with heavy defeats at home to Liverpool and Manchester City in recent weeks hammering home how far behind the top teams in the Premier League they are.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under severe pressure after recent results, with United nine points off the summit already.
The expectations went up at Old Trafford in the summer when they spent big to secure Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane. But, as of yet, Solskjaer has not been able to find a consistent balance in his side.
That may be down to the lack of a quality holding midfielder, with fans not convinced by Fred and Scott McTominay. United have been linked with Declan Rice in the past and the West Ham man is having a fantastic campaign for West Ham.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, Sinclair said that if United had targeted a robust and effective central midfielder over another attacking player, then they'd be in much better shape.
"I go back to the summer when they made their signings," he said.
"I didn't think they needed a winger and I didn't think they needed a striker. I said they needed a right-back and a holding midfielder.
"If Declan Rice is with a McTominay or a Fred, the difference in performance in that United team would be vast.
"If you had a right-back who liked getting involved in possession, who liked getting forward and had a good end product, the performance in that United team would be vastly different.
Sinclair added that while he was pleased to see City win as a former player, it was striking just how out of sorts United were on the day.
"Even though I was supporting City I was working in a professional capacity and it was uncomfortable, it was very awkward.
"The lack of togetherness, the lack of performance, the lack of anything from United was pretty awkward. Because you don't want to see a derby like that. They didn't last a fist on City.
"Although it was 2-0, it was probably the widest 2-0 I've ever watched."
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