Michael Owen believes Manchester United need to start looking to the future when the transfer window reopens in January.
The Red Devils have enjoyed a positive start under new boss Erik ten Hag with many of his summer signings hitting the ground running. The likes of Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez have made strong impressions as United sit on the coat-tails of the top-four places.
However, for all of the shoots of cautious optimism, one area United have struggled in is scoring goals on a regular basis. In 12 Premier League games this season, Ten Hag’s side have found the net just 17 times, with all of the sides above having scored at least seven more.
United have encountered a number of issues with their attacking options, particularly the ongoing saga surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo. The 37-year-old started the new campaign behind his colleagues having missed pre-season and has started just three league matches all season.
In the limited minutes he has been given, Ronaldo has struggled in front of goal, scoring just three times in 14 appearances in all competitions. Marcus Rashford has been the starter under Ten Hag and has three goals, while Anthony Martial’s impact has been limited due to injuries.
And Owen, who burst onto the scene as a teenager for Liverpool, thinks United have to address their forward issues in the upcoming transfer windows - even if January is expected to be a quieter month in terms of incomings.
“ Cristiano Ronaldo obviously isn’t getting any younger and is not going to be there for another four, five years,” Owen told AceOdds. “So from that point of view, you do wonder where goals will come from. Marcus Rashford has always been a goalscorer but has never been absolutely prolific.
“Martial has had lots of chances over time. He’s never been really prolific and scored into the twenties, let’s say. So I think in terms of scoring goals, that’s where Manchester United will have to address it at some point.”
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Owen, like Ronaldo, moved to Old Trafford as a player in the twilight of his career, having both made their names as prodigiously-talented teenagers. Wayne Rooney was another to be at the top of his game from a young age, with United signing him from Everton as an 18-year-old.
Rooney would ultimately spend 13 seasons with United, becoming the club's highest-ever goalscorer in the process. Owen has suggested to his old side that a move in a similar vein to the acquisition of his former strike partner is the way to go to help ensure long-term success under Ten Hag.
“I think when you’re Manchester United, you’re probably looking at the next Wayne Rooney, the next 18, 19, 20-year-old,” he added. “If you’re going to buy somebody they need to nail that position down for the next decade.
“But there’s nobody really out there at the moment that they’ve done that with. So they’ve had to bring players in like Casemiro, like Ronaldo, very much the here and now. But they might need to be replaced.”
