Exclusive: Manchester United’s Attack Lacks Firepower and Needs Investment Warns Legend McIlroy

Manchester United legend Sammy McIlroy is worried about the club’s lack of firepower after a lacklustre transfer window.

The Reds left out-of-favour striker Marcus Rashford leave the club in arguably the biggest deal of transfer deadline day.

Attacking option Antony was also shown the exit door, loaned out to Real Betis to end his Old Trafford nightmare.

Forward Anthony Martial was let go on a free transfer last summer, with Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood two players who have also seen their United careers ended in recent times.

That leaves Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund as United’s main forwards, with Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho offering other attacking options.

But unlike Liverpool, Man City, and eight other clubs who have strikers who have scored ten or more goals this season, United’s highest scorer this season is rising star Diallo with six goals.

It's little surprise United fans have been crying out for a goal threat like Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, leading the Premier League scoring charts with 21 goals.

Man City’s Norwegian hitman Ering Haaland has 19 for the season so far, while Newcastle’s on-fire frontman Alexander Isak has 17 goals, as does Nottingham Forest frontman Chris Wood.

“The final third is the problem, United a striker who can score 15-20 goals a season,” stressed McIlroy, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com. 

“It’s not been a big transfer window for the club, which is worrying for a lot of fans."

“I think come the summer the club have got to back the manager and go and sign [Viktor] Gyokeres, they’ve got to spend the money and go and get him."

“He’s a proven goalscorer and has Champions League experience, which is what the club need."

“The manager [Ruben Amorim] has worked with him before and knows what he can do. We’re going to have to spend to get him."

“I think the club are going to have give this manager a few windows to get the team he wants."

“He’s come in mid-season and is now starting to get rid of a lot of players and get his own players in.”

LEAKY DEFENCE...AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

United sign defenders Patrick Dorgu (£25m) and Ayden Heaven (£1m) during the January transfer window, but at 20 and 18 are prospects for the future rather than season professionals who will come in and sure up United’s leaky defence.

Defender Leny Yoro was bought for £52million last summer, as was defenders Matthijs de Ligt (£45m) and Noussair Mazraoui (£36m), Zirkzee (£36m),  midfielder Manuel Ugarte (£51m).

But both De Ligt and Mazraoui were both former manager Eric ten Hag’s signings, so Amorim has inherited a squad which still needs shaping a lot if the club is going to get anywhere near its former glories.

“It’s crazy really, United have already lost eight games at this stage in the season,” reflected McIlory, who enjoyed a distinguished 11-year career and is fondly remembered as the ‘Last Busby Babe’, legendary manager Sir Matt Busby’s final signing.

“I don’t think we’ll be relegated, that’s not going to happen, but then I thought in the 1970s when I played for the club and we got relegated."

“It’s not been a very good season, but at the end of the day we shouldn’t be talking about United possibly even getting relegated, it’s Man Utd at the end of the day, one of the best clubs in the world."

“Time will tell what’s going to happen, but the manager has said he’s not going to change his system, so the players need to get on board with it."

“He’s had success with it in Portugal, so everyone needs to buy in to what he’s trying to achieve to get this club back to where it should be.”