Manchester United need to solve defensive and goalkeeper issues this summer and should sign Harry Kane rather than Jadon Sancho, says former coach Rene Meulensteen
Rene Meulensteen believes Manchester United need to sort out their goalkeeper and defence this summer, and also says Harry Kane would be a better signing than Jadon Sancho.
No.1 glovesman David de Gea has faced criticism after making SEVEN errors leading to goals since the start of the 2018/19 season.
Dean Henderson, who has spent the past two seasons on loan at Sheffield United, could take the Spaniard's spot next season, while Leicester star Kasper Schmeichel has been linked with a shock move to Old Trafford.
United have also made £108million-rated Borussia Dortmund winger Sancho their number one target, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seeks to bring the superb forward to Manchester.
But Meulensteen believes Sancho is the wrong kind of attacker for Man United to target, insisting other areas of their squad need improvement as well.
The former Red Devils coach told talkSPORT: “They first need to solve and get clarity about the goalkeeping position because now there’s a debate about De Gea and the rumours with Schmeichel, but also Henderson is there.
“So that needs to be solved to make sure that’s clear.
"People are on De Gea’s back, but he’s still a very good goalkeeper; he’s had a few blips this season, he needs to sort that out.
“They also need someone next to Harry Maguire to strengthen that [defence].
“They’re bringing Jadon Sancho in, but more than anything, I would have gone for a more prolific out-and-out striker, somebody like Harry Kane.
“There is so much creativity coming from midfield with [Bruno] Fernandes, [Paul] Pogba, [Marcus] Rashford, [Anthony] Martial... they can all contribute to goalscoring.
“But [they need] somebody in the middle who's going to score 25-plus goals. That will close the gap for United.”
Sancho scored 20 goals and registered 18 assists for Dortmund last season.
Despite the winger's highly-anticipated arrival, Meulensteen, who worked alongside legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson for six years, still thinks United need more signings to compete with Liverpool and Man City for the Premier League title.
He added: “They’ve got a lot of various options up front with Martial, Rashford and Greenwood, who's a fantastic finisher.
“Jadon is the one that would feature best on the right, coming in and using his pace and trickery. It would be a great addition.
“But at the same time, United need more to really become a force to compete for a Premier League title.
"He will have a fantastic future, he made that decision to move from Manchester City, he went to Dortmund, he’s done very, very well there.
“Now, it’s his time to make his mark in the Premier League and I’m sure he will at a club like Manchester United, so he has an unbelievable future.”