United must roll the dice and ignore key position ahead of make-or-break summer transfer window – opinion

In an ideal world a wave of peace and love would wash over this troubled planet, but alas we do not live in such a world. And for that reason, Manchester United will not suddenly acquire strength in depth in every position over a dazzling summer of dynamic transfer activity. Even if Champions League football storms back into Old Trafford resources are far from limitless, the capacity to do deals finite. United need to prioritise and should do so boldly and clearly just as they did last summer. Attacking example An ailing attack was given a dramatic overhaul that, by all accounts, paid off. Some £200m was spent on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, while the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho were rightly jettisoned. The result is a combined 27 goals and counting in all competitions. It’s a decent return considering that only one dedicated striker arrived, and that he only started firing in earnest since the turn of the year. But, given the versatility of Mbeumo – who has started ahead of Sesko in the centre-forward role numerous times under Michael Carrick – the need to sign another striker this summer is simply not great enough to take up any resources that could be deployed elsewhere. Low on the list Make no mistake, reinforcement at number 9 would be wonderful, especially if young Chido Obi’s progress remains slow. United’s attack could be rocked by a long-term injury and Joshua Zirkzee, nominally an option in that position, seems set for an exit. But compared to the gaping chasm about to open still wider in the midfield when Casemiro leaves at the end of the season, there should be no debate about where United’s priorities must lie. With two or even three midfield vacancies to fill depending on the future of Manuel Ugarte, that is where funds and attention should be focused. Bigger fish to fry The Red Devils have wasted enough time and resource over the past decade on failed midfield experiments; it’s time for INEOS to put their money where their mouth is for a second summer running. This time, there is nowhere to hide. Elite talent like Elliot Anderson or Sandro Tonali is available, it is utterly essential but devastatingly expensive. A second midfielder will only push the expenditure further into nine figures. Nobody likes it, but football doesn’t care. The icing on the cake last year was Senne Lammens, an inspired solution to a second problem position. The equivalent this summer still cannot be a striker when United’s crippling lack of width is considered – a new full-back on either side and a natural left winger would all strengthen the team more than a number 9. Not signing another centre-forward is a risk for squad depth, a gamble in front of goal which could be costly. But overlooking midfielders and wide men simply compounds immediate problems in the starting lineup, setting United up to fail long before the ball reaches the opposition box. Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Joe Ponting Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried. He cut his teeth working in print media for local newspapers and entered football journalism covering the grassroots game for the Non-League Paper. Here he achieved a career high, interviewing United legend Sir Bobby Charlton to get his views on the lower echelons of the football pyramid. To kill time during international breaks Joe writes album reviews and has strong views on post punk for Plus One Magazine.