Manchester United need a striker as well as Erik ten Hag's new tactical plans to score more goals

Tactical shifts

After a successful first season in charge, Erik ten Hag will try and move his Manchester United team on this year, pushing them even further towards his ideals tactically and in terms of style.

There has been evidence of that so far on tour. Against Arsenal, it was the full-backs who shone, with Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka taking up more attacking positions in central areas.

There was less of that against Real despite United dominating possession, but with Andre Onana in goal the team was more compact, playing a much more aggressive high line. It allowed Casemiro to man the deeper midfield role while Christian Eriksen pushed forward. United once again often attacked with six players.

Ten Hag has already spoken this summer about the lack of goals in his side. He knows a new striker will help to fix that, but he's also demanded more from the players already here. One way to go about that is by trying to get more players into attacking positions and there is evidence of how he will go about that in pre-season.

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But there is still an issue in front of goal. This was only a friendly, but for all of the possession United had and the stylish way they moved the ball at times, there was little cutting edge. Andriy Lunin had a pretty quiet night in the Real goal, denying Mason Mount, Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes.

Things will undoubtedly improve. This is still early in pre-season, Mount is learning the ropes and United not only don't have a striker but don't have the one they used so often last season, with Anthony Martial still on his way back to fitness.

It did show the need to get another attacker in, however. United remain in talks with Atalanta