Ralf Rangnick believes Manchester United should buy two “modern”
strikers this summer to help launch the club’s rebuild under Erik ten Hag.
The interim boss hands over the reins to the Dutchman at the end of the season and has suggested one of the categories needing attention is beefing up United’s attacking options.
Rangnick’s response was prompted by a question in his post-match press conference following our 3-0 win at Old Trafford against Brentford that, with Cristiano Ronaldo up front, might it impact on the type of forward the Reds will target.
“Cristiano is not a central striker or does not want to play in that position,”
said Rangnick.
“It's obvious that the club needs, I would say, at least, two new strikers who just give this team more quality and more options. I wouldn't even call it wingers.
“Two strikers and modern strikers, that do not necessarily have to be wingers.
“If you look into international football, there are not that many top teams who still play with two strikers. Most of the international top teams play with either three strikers or with a false nine.”
Rangnick pointed at the depth of Premier League title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City to explain how United have fallen short in that department this season.
“If you look at, Liverpool and Manchester City, and look at their strikers, they have, in their squad, five or six top-class strikers,” he added.
“Gabriel Jesus, until four weeks ago, he hardly played. Now he's playing again regularly, I mean you look at the number of players they have and if you ask me in his career is he playing central striker or a winger? Is [Jack] Grealish a winger or central striker?
“They're all strikers and they can play in different positions. They can also switch, they can rotate.
“Those kinds of players, we don't have that many.
“Mason Greenwood, would have been one of those players who regularly play, but then after the West Ham game, he was no longer part of the squad. [Anthony] Martial was on loan at Sevilla and Edinson Cavani was injured most of the time, so we didn't have that many alternatives up front.
“So, for me, it's not just a question of position; it's also a question of what kind of quality players Manchester United will have in the future.”