Former Premier League manager Martin O’Neill insists he could have performed at the same level as Man Utd defender Patrick Dorgu on Tuesday night.

The Red Devils lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest – who are on course to qualify for the Champions Legaue – with Anthony Elanga scoring the only goal of the game.

Man Utd dominated many aspects of the game with Ruben Amorim’s side having 69 per cent possession and 23 shots compared to Forest’s eight.

But Red Devils academy graduate Elanga came back to haunt them with the Swede picking the ball up in his own half and running most of the length of the pitch, avoiding a couple of challenges, before sticking the ball into the bottom corner.

Amorim is struggling to get the right results since replacing Erik ten Hag in November and his new January signing Dorgu was off the pace on Tuesday evening.

Former Leicester City boss O’Neill, 73, called out the Denmark international for taking the easy option “three times” early in the second half.

O’Neill told TNT Sports: “They had Dorgu playing tonight.

“I could have done what he did! He’s wide left-hand side, he’s got the ball and you’re saying: “Come on! Your job is to take players on. Get at them!”

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“He’s laid it inside three times in the first 10 minutes of the second half… to the opposition!

“Maybe it’s no confidence, I don’t know what it is. But these type of things are all over the field for Manchester United.”

On the quality difference between Man Utd and Nottingham Forest, O’Neill added: “They [Man United] have some really good players.

“Obviously, Bruno Fernandes is a top-quality player. But they haven’t enough good players to be a threat in this league. And when I say a threat for Manchester United, I’m talking about getting into the top four.”

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Man Utd boss Amorim was disappointed not to get all three points after seeing his side “control” the game at the City Ground.

Amorim told reporters: “I think we controlled the game. We already knew that this team [Forest] can score goals out of nothing. Then when they scored, we changed the game a little bit for what they want.

“Then we tried sometimes with the good opportunities but I think in the last cross, the last pass, the last assist [it] wasn’t there. When we don’t have that we cannot score goals. But we have some situations and this season is like that. We try it. We have a lot of shots on goal. We push the opponent to the last third. But in the end we had a lack of quality in the final third.”

Man Utd are looking to make ‘two blockbuster signings’ in the summer transfer window to help Ruben Amorim take the club back to the top, according to reports.

The Red Devils are having a nightmare season under Amorim with Man Utd currently 13th in the Premier League table heading into the final eight fixtures of the campaign.

Despite having more possession and almost three times the amount of shots as Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, Man Utd lost 1-0 to an Anthony Elanga goal in the first half.

Amorim’s side have struggled to adapt to the Portuguese head coach’s style of play, philosophy and tactics, although recent displays have been slightly more encouraging.

The Man Utd board could only afford one January transfer amid financial difficulties with Patrick Dorgu arriving from Italian side Lecce.

However, it now looks like Amorim will get some proper backing in the summer transfer window with GiveMeSport claiming that Man Utd are ‘determined to prove they mean business this summer’.

The Red Devils have plotted ‘an ambitious transfer strategy designed to show Bruno Fernandes – and the rest of the footballing world – that they are ready to compete at the highest level’.

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The report comes as Man Utd midfielder Fernandes has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, something which Amorim has already ruled out in a press conference.

Man Utd ‘will build around’ Fernandes with the hope that winning the Europa League and qualification for the Champions League can  ‘unlock the kind of spending power needed to attract top-tier talent’.

The report adds:

‘If they do qualify, expect a major push for a marquee striker like Victor Osimhen, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, along with significant reinforcements in other key areas.

Right now, Manchester United have to tread carefully in terms of spending commitments but, behind the scenes, multiple scenarios are being mapped out. If they get the green light to accelerate their project, it could mean two blockbuster signings rather than just one.

‘Regardless of their financial constraints, insiders believe the Red Devils will aim to bring in five new signings this summer, carefully balancing the books to strengthen the squad.

‘A new midfield partner for Manuel Ugarte is on the wishlist, along with a creative attacker and a defensive reinforcement. Manchester United’s season is shaping up to be a crucial one as they push for the Champions League platform needed to truly flex their muscle.’

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The ‘reservations’ Manchester United had over Anthony Elanga ahead of his sale to Nottingham Forest have been revealed after the winger scored a stunning goal against his former club on Tuesday.

Elanga covered 85 metres of the City Ground pitch in just nine seconds, taking seven touches, the last of which was a perfectly directed shot into the corner to beat Andre Onana and hand Forest all three points in their bid to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Elanga now has six goals and eight assists in the Premier League this season and the wonderful winner against the Red Devils inevitably led to debates as to whether United were right to sell their academy graduate to Forest for just £15m in the summer of 2023.

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The Athletic has revealed the ‘reservations’ United had when they decided to sell the now 22-year-old despite ‘appreciating’ his other qualities.

Like many things with United, the answer is complicated. When Elanga departed, there was an appreciation at the club for his phenomenal physical talents but reservations over how he would parlay those skills into breaking down stubborn defences. Elanga on the counter-attack running into open space can be devastating, but it was of less use in a United team that had expectations to dominate possession during games.

Dean Whitehouse, who was an academy coach for United between 2000 and 2023, criticised the club for letting Elanga go in a recent LinkedIn post.

Whitehouse wrote: “Nottingham Forest fans witnessed a thrilling display at the City Ground as Anthony Elanga dismantled a strong Brighton side, assisting in three goals and showcasing the electric pace and attacking intent that made him such an exciting prospect at Manchester United. Watching him tear down the flanks, fearless and relentless, it’s impossible not to wonder: Why is he doing this in Forest red and not at Old Trafford?

“Elanga’s story at United is one of rapid rise and equally swift departure. As a kid in the Carrington cages, he played with joy, dancing past opponents in tight spaces, honing the kind of skill that cannot be taught through rigid coaching structures. He was a footballer in the purest sense, bold, expressive, and unpredictable. When Ralf Rangnick handed him his first-team chance, he embraced it with both arms, injecting pace and energy into a struggling United side.

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“The early signs were promising. He was fearless, direct and played with the enthusiasm of someone who knew the weight of the badge but was not burdened by it. He scored big goals, lifted fans off their feet, and looked like the next in a long line of great United wingers, [Steve] Coppell, [Andrei] Kanchelskis, [Ryan] Giggs, and [David] Beckham. But instead of being nurtured into a mainstay, he was deemed surplus to requirements. Sold for a relatively low fee, while United spent tens of millions searching for something they already had.”

According to reports, ‘one key advantage’ is boosting Manchester United’s chances of beating Liverpool and Chelsea in the race to sign Liam Delap.

The 22-year-old progressed through the ranks at Man City, who sold him to Premier League rivals Ipswich Town during last year’s summer transfer window.

Delap shone on loan in the Championship with Hull City last season, and joined newly-promoted Ipswich for around £20m.

The England U21 international has surpassed expectations this term, grabbing ten goals and two assists in 31 appearances for Kieran McKenna’s struggling side.

Ipswich are unlikely to retain Delap following their expected relegation, as he is attracting interest from several Big Six sides ahead of this summer.

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Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are likely to be in the market for a new striker this summer, and Delap represents a cheaper solution with his reported £40m release clause.

The Red Devils are crying out for a new striker as Rasmus Hojlund and Joshuz Zirkzee have been heavily criticised for their poor performances this season.

Delap’s Premier League experience is a factor in his favour, with the potential alternatives including Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Osimhen, who are among the contenders to be this year’s leading scorer in Europe.

Regarding Delap, a report from The Daily Mail claims Man Utd have ‘internally stepped up’ with ‘one key advantage’ boosting Ruben Amorim’s side in a ‘five-way battle’.

‘Manchester United have held more discussions internally over a potential summer move for Ipswich striker Liam Delap.

‘United will face competition from a number of rivals including Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and his old club Manchester City who have a buyback option on the 22-year-old.’

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‘One advantage in their favour is that technical director Jason Wilcox knows Delap well from his time at City’s academy.

‘A striker is one of United’s priorities in the transfer market this summer, and they will try to fund a deal by offloading Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho.’

It is also claimed that a summer ‘swap deal’ involving Osimhen is ‘feasible’.

‘Victor Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, is another striker on United’s radar and that could feasibly involve a swap deal involving Alejandro Garnacho who was linked with the Italian club in January.

‘Rashford has a £40m option in his loan deal at Aston Villa, and it’s understood he could join other clubs for a similar fee.

‘There is an obligation for Chelsea to turn Sancho’s loan into a permanent move worth between £22-25m, although Confidential revealed that the Londoners will face a financial penalty – since confirmed as £5m – if they break that agreement and sign another winger instead.’