Manchester United can exploit Chelsea weakness to find alternative Paul Pogba successor

Forward planning has been a major blind-spot for Manchester United for quite some time and remains a significant factor in the notable and alarming gap between themselves and the Premier League's top two. Alas, that painful glance upwards to see Manchester City and Liverpool now comes with a certain numbness.

That should not be mistaken for acceptance, though. Five months have passed since United sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with the club choosing to wait until the summit to permanently replace him.

Erik ten Hag appears to be their coach-elect. However, for multiple reasons, the heel-dragging continues and there has yet to be an official announcement in that regard. All the while, United's top-four hopes — which were a compromise from title dreams that had proceeded the campaign — also appear to be in tatters.

READ MORE: We simulated Erik ten Hag's first transfer window and this is who he signed

Roll on next season. It simply can't come quick enough for United fans.

The lengthy manager search evokes (too many) memories of equally-significant decisions on players that United have not undertaken with conviction, purpose or a plan in mind. Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard have been allowed to run down their contracts and that miss-management is not an anomaly, either.

Of course, there has to be an element of flexibility not to get caught up in the rat race. Clubs also have to roll with the punches and adapt where necessary; in the boardroom, dugout or in the transfer market.

But United fans hope that change is on the horizon, and some decisiveness is needed particularly in midfield, which will be a hot topic in this summer's window. Fingers are crossed among the fan-base this will be the window where United finally address a