Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has called on Erik ten Hag to improve in five areas as the club prepare for their first Premier League season under the Dutch manager.
Ten Hag has already made three additions since arriving from Ajax. Tyrell Malacia became the manager's first signing when he joined from Feyenoord, while free agent Christian Eriksen has arrived after a spell at Brentford and United have confirmed a deal to sign Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez.
Malacia has been involved during United's pre-season tour, where Ten Hag's side beat Crystal Palace on Tuesday to make it three wins from three. However, Keane - who played nearly 500 times for United over the course of more than a decade - thinks more work needs to be done.
"Off the top of my head it’s the midfield," Keane told Sky Bet when asked about where United need to improve. "They need some top quality players in the middle. They need some physicality, some energy. That’s where I’d start.
"Of course, the whole core of the team needs improving… the full-backs, the striker and I’m not convinced with the goalkeeper either." Keane's recommendations came as he described the 2021-22 campaign as disastrous, though he suggested the club should aim higher than simply reaching the top four.
"I don’t think that should be your mindset going into a season that you’d settle for fourth," he continued. "You’re obviously going to do as well as you can and you’re competing to get into the Champions League; for financial reasons, the brand, the club, the top players want to play in that.
"But you shouldn’t be ruling out that you can still win a cup competition, [it was a] disastrous season and you’d like to think there will be some improvement, but I wouldn’t just sit there — as poor as they are and go; 'I’d settle for top four'. I wouldn’t."
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Despite United beating Palace in Australia, the Eagles' goal was one which David de Gea won't have been happy about. Malacia has been making an impact at left-back, while Diogo Dalot played his part in Anthony Martial's first-half goal, but Keane appears to believe there's still room for improvement.
As for United's plans in attack, much may depend on the future of Cristiano Ronaldo. Last season's top scorer is not part of the touring squad, having stayed in Europe for family reasons, with Martial leading the line in Melbourne after returning from an underwhelming loan at Sevilla.
Ten Hag's side have three more pre-season games before kicking off their Premier League campaign at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on August 6. Their final fixture in Australia comes against Aston Villa on Saturday, and United XIs will take on Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano on successive days at the end of the month.
