Jude Bellingham and Frenkie de Jong issues may force Manchester United to rethink transfer targets

Manchester United's summer transfer priorities have been known for some time now—a new striker and a new central midfielder are at the top of Erik ten Hag's list of recruitment priorities.

United went into this season low on striking options and Cristiano Ronaldo's acrimonious departure in November, although undoubtedly beneficial on the whole, was detrimental in the sense that it left the brittle Anthony Martial as the only recognised central striker in the squad.

The January transfer window is generally a seller's market, and that, coupled with United's financial situation, meant they were unable to bring in an appropriate replacement for a player who was once the greatest scorer in the game.

Also read: Bellingham is ready for the role Ten Hag wants him to take on at United

United strengthened their midfield with the addition of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen last summer. Casemiro is world-class and Eriksen is top-class, but Ten Hag was starting from such a low base—Scott McTominay and Fred was a regular midfield axis under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick—that they are still short in that area when injuries and suspensions strike.

In terms of personnel, there are two marquee names on United's list for each position. Up front, they are Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen; in midfield, they are Frenkie de Jong and Jude Bellingham.

Kane is Ten Hag's preferred striker target, and should the 29-year-old leave Spurs yet stay in the Premier League, it will only be a matter of time before he surpasses Alan Shearer at the top of the division's all-time scoring ranks. Osimhen, meanwhile, is enjoying the best season of his career and is on the brink of firing Napoli to their first Scudetto since 1990. Both players have