Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has identified three potential singings that could fix the club’s ongoing problems in midfield.
Rangnick took charge of United for the first time in their Premier League game against Crystal Palace last Saturday, a match they won 1-0.
Speaking after the game, the 63-year-old praised the displays of holding midfielders Fred and Scott McTominay, but urged both players to cut out the sloppy square passes from their games.
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‘They did one or two or three mistakes, especially in the first half there were two square passes; one from Scott, one from Fred,’ he said.
‘I don’t like those kinds of balls in midfield in those positions. But overall, when the other team is in possession of the ball, both Fred and Scotty they are almost perfect for that kind of football.’
But it seems that Rangnick already had his eyes on replacing one, or both of the players before he joined the Red devils.
The German coach told United bosses that he sees the midfield as a major area of weakness during his interview for the job, according to ESPN.
The report added that Rangnick explained why the midfield need strengthening before suggesting scouts took a closer look at Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips, Dortmund star Jude Bellingham and RB Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara.
Rangnick also reportedly singled out Bellingham’s Dortmund teammate Erling Haaland as a player that the club should look to sign.
United have had a long-standing interest in Haaland, who has scored 74 goals in 72 games for Dortmund, and could be part of a bidding war for the Norwegian star in the summer with some of Europe’s top teams also interested in signing him.
But although Rangnick has identified the players he wants to sign, both he and the club expect a quiet January window, with outgoings the priority for now.
