Manchester United could make shrewd summer transfer to help solve Erik ten Hag's midfield problem

The more Manchester United's season appears to spiral the more the weaknesses of the squad shine through.

Erik ten Hag has done a great job in bringing them so far so soon but a decade of woeful squad management and hundreds of wasted millions was always going to rear its ugly head at some point. He's a great manager, but not a miracle worker and sooner or later the reality of his situation was going to come to a head.

Despite the obscene amount of money United have spent on their players, there remain significant gaps in the squad and a severe lack of quality past the starting XI. When injuries and suspensions hit with the ferocity they have this season, it quickly becomes exposed.

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For most of the campaign and even before it began it was widely agreed that a lack of a proper striker was the manager's biggest problem. It remains a massive one, of course, as goals have been at such a premium that only Aston Villa - who started the campaign terribly - have scored fewer goals than United in the top 10.

A striker has to be a massive priority and plans are already well in place to bring much-needed goals to the team and lessen the burden on Marcus Rashford. Harry Kane is the top target but Victor Osimhen, Rasmus Hojlund, Goncalo Ramos, Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani are all on the shortlist as well.

But while the clamour has focussed on a need for a goalscorer, midfield has gone slightly under the radar. The brilliant performances of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro for the majority of the campaign aided in masking the cracks in the middle of the park but since their performance levels have dipped the total lack of depth has become apparent.

It's hardly