Striker shortage
Despite bringing in Joshua Zirkzee in the summer, Manchester United’s struggles in front of goal have continued this season, with the Red Devils netting only five goals in as many Premier League games so far. Profligacy and a lack of cutting edge saw them fail to secure three points against Crystal Palace and FC Twente in the Europa League. Zirkzee, the new Dutch recruit, has shown flashes of brilliance in linking up play but lacks the killer instinct inside the box. Erik ten Hag has asked for patience with him, especially since Rasmus Hojlund’s pre-season injury has forced him to play consistently.
Even when the Dane Hojlund initially struggled upon arriving at the club, he ended up being the top scorer last season. However, it was evident that the manager was heavily reliant on him, hindering his freedom on the field. At present, the only other specialized striker available is academy player Ethan Wheatley, but Ten Hag is hesitant to throw him into the deep end. United missed out on adding another forward in the summer due to defensive signings, leaving them with Zirkzee as the only attacking addition.
According to reliable sources like David Ornstein of The Athletic, United is expected to address the attacking issues in the upcoming transfer windows with multiple additions on the cards. Ornstein mentioned on the Back Pages podcast that more signings were needed in the attack as Zirkzee was the sole forward brought in. With Hojlund’s return to fitness expected soon, Ten Hag will hope that he can contribute to getting more goals in future games. The team’s lack of goals can also be attributed to Bruno Fernandes’ poor form, as the talisman has yet to score a goal this season.
Attacking additions expected
Despite Fernandes’ underperformance, Ten Hag is unlikely to drop him for the upcoming crucial league games against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa. United will also face Porto in their next Europa League match as they aim to turn their goal-scoring fortunes around.
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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