Former striker Dimitar Berbatov believes Manchester United must recruit a centre-back and a striker in this forthcoming summer's transfer window to launch a genuine Premier League title charge next season.
United, with three league games left to play this term, are on course to secure a top-four finish and a route back into the Champions League for next season. They have already scooped the Carabao Cup and have made it to next month's FA Cup final, meaning Erik ten Hag's maiden season in charge could end up being highly successful.
The Reds have made enormous strides under the Dutchman this season and did briefly poke their nose into the title race in January, though they were never expected to compete for the top step of the podium this season. Next term, however, they will have genuine aspirations of competing with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal.
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To ensure that is possible, however, United know they must strengthen their squad in the summer window, not least with the addition of a new striker. United have been too reliant on Marcus Rashford in front of goal this season and, as a result, are going to prioritise the addition of a new goal-getter. The Reds are also planning to bring in a new central-midfielder.
Berbatov, however, believes recruiting another central-defender, as well as a striker, will be key to Ten Hag and United standing any chance of competing for the title next term.
"They need a striker, for sure," Berbatov told Betfred. "It's been spoken about so much before.
"For me, it's the priority for United in the summer transfer window because they need that player that's going to get them over 20 goals a season. Who's it going to be? We need to wait and see.
"I also believe they need to buy a centre-back this summer and it's a must, in my opinion. I believe that United are pretty much covered in every other area of the pitch, but if they don’t have that consistency, then they're going to drop points when they shouldn't drop points and end up in a similar position next season."
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