With the arrival of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United at the end of the season, an overhaul of players is expected in the summer.
United have endured a lacklustre campaign, with players being personally criticised by fans and nothing much positive to cheer about.
Moving forward, Ten Hag has to make the squad his own in order to be a success. It is a fresh start for the club and it is very much needed.
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Ralf Rangnick has been interim manager since the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November and is set to occupy a more advisory role at the club when Ten Hag takes over.
Manchester United need a new spine for the team, there is no structure and little solidarity currently. When compared to their rivals across the city, the contrast in the quality of the squad is vast. Every successful team needs a rigid spine in order to be successful, look at United teams of the past they all had one. Schmeichel, Stam, Keane, Cole and then Van der Sar, Vidic, Scholes, Rooney later on.
When the Dutchman takes over this is the first thing that needs looking at. A new centre back is of paramount importance, United have only managed to keep seven clean sheets in the Premier League this season.
Captain Harry Maguire has had a poor season by his standards but the whole defence has been poor as well, so it is unfair that a lot of the blame has been put on his shoulders. Both City and Liverpool went all out and spent upwards of £50 million on a centre back and that has proven to be a wise idea.
Secondly, the middle of the park needs looking at, Fred and Scott McTominay are steady but they need to bolster this area if they are going to make the next step up to close the gap on City and Liverpool.
Declan Rice would be the perfect candidate for United but it would take a lot to coast him away from Europa League semi-finalists West Ham, as well as other clubs being in form the England international. A new striker is needed, a number 9, a player who can get upwards of 20 goals a year, obviously Harry Kane would be on the list, but once again it may be difficult to sign him.
Darwin Nunez has been linked with United, the 22-year-old Benfica striker is on the radar of many Premier League clubs. Players in other positions need signing as well but a new spine is critical if United and Ten Hag are to succeed.
It has been a miserable campaign for Rangnick and his players but with a fresh start on the horizon, things may be changing in the red half of Manchester.
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