Pundit Ian Wright says he is ‘baffled’ by the failure of Man Utd to sign a focal point centre-forward.
Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has mainly used Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial in that position this season.
Cavani has been the most effective of the two, but his age prevents him from being a long-term solution for Solskjaer.
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Speaking about the situation on his podcast, Wright said: “Back in the day when you look at all the forwards who used to play for United, they were magnificent, difficult to play against and so good at everything.
“[They’ve gone] away from having a focal centre-forward who links the play, whether it’s [Teddy] Sheringham or [Andy] Cole. They kept the ball better in that area than they do now.
“Even when Solskjaer played, they had a plan once they got in there, that they could play it into forwards, they could link, so the ball stays in an area where Man Utd can pick teams apart. It doesn’t happen anymore.
“Even with Cavani, he’s not that guy. He’s not that link-up guy to make that happen.
“That kind of clever, inventive forward play in and around the last third that Man Utd just do not do.
“It’s baffling to me that Solskjaer, who played in those teams, is not looking for those kinds of forwards that can do that.
“If they’re talking about Mason Greenwood as the guy who they’re going to eventually play down the middle, it’s not the same as what United built all their success on with the strikers.
“I know football evolves and we’re seeing inverted wingers and wingers scoring lots of goals but that was a formula that worked.”
Anthony Martial played centrally in the recent 3-1 win over Newcastle. He had a poor game however and was replaced by Greenwood.
And Wright isn’t the only pundit to criticise United’s forwards.
Premier League scoring legend Alan Shearer said Martial ‘lacked desire’ in the Newcastle win.
Cavani’s contract looks set to expire in June, with Man Utd yet to enable a one-year extension. Failure to sign a top-class centre-forward could jeopardise United’s ability to compete for the title again next season.
One solution is Erling Haaland. The Norwegian sensation has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford.
His agent, Mino Raiola, revealed yesterday that four Premier League sides are in the running to sign him. United are thought to be one of those teams, which means they could sort out their striker problems sooner rather than later.
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