Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in a pre-season friendly in Columbia, South Carolina, highlights urgent issues with their attack. With 26 days left in the transfer window, head coach Erik ten Hag needs to prioritize signing a new centre-forward. Ivan Toney, who is nearing the end of his contract with Brentford, could be a strong candidate for United.
As Erik ten Hag’s third season approaches, fans are already concerned about where the goals will come from. The recent 3-0 loss to Liverpool in South Carolina only reinforced these worries. With Rasmus Hojlund sidelined for six weeks due to a hamstring injury, United find themselves relying on a young, unproven striker, Joshua Zirkzee, who has yet to make an impact.
Sancho struggled in the loss to Liverpool, missing a crucial headed chance that a natural centre-forward would likely have converted. Marcus Rashford showed more promise but remains unpredictable after a season of off-field issues.
Antony and Amad Diallo have yet to prove their effectiveness, adding to the pressure on United’s attack. United’s bid for Bayern Munich defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazrouai was rejected. New signing Leny Yoro is also out for three months with a fractured metatarsal. Despite these defensive challenges, the glaring issue remains the lack of a proven goal-scorer.
Liverpool’s precise finishing during the friendly highlighted United’s struggles with missed chances. While United need defensive reinforcements, acquiring a reliable striker should be their top priority. They scored the fewest goals among the Premier League’s top six in Ten Hag’s first season and had the joint lowest total of the top 10 last term.
With Hojlund out until after the September international break and Zirkzee unproven, United urgently need a striker like Toney. His experience, physicality, and proven goal-scoring record make him an ideal candidate. Brentford may be willing to sell Toney to avoid losing him for free next summer, offering United an opportunity to secure him.
Although Ten Hag also wants a centre-back and a No. 6 midfielder, the immediate need for a reliable centre-forward is critical. United may sell Scott McTominay to fund a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte, but prioritizing a striker is essential to solving their goal-scoring issues.
