Manchester United’s search to supplement their attack with another forward is continuing – but their squad might look somewhat different if they had listened to interim boss Ralf Rangnick in January.
Rangnick was appointed as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s successor last November. He took charge of the Red Devils until the end of the 2021-22 campaign, in which they finished sixth and recorded their worst points tally of the Premier League era, and left to take charge of the Austria national team.
The 63-year-old is a well-respected figure in football, in part thanks to his influence as a successful sporting director at RB Leipzig, and the original plan was to keep him on as a consultant, seemingly with input on scouting and transfer targets.
At the end of the season, Rangnick namechecked three high-profile players that moved clubs in January that he recommended to the United board mid-season.
“I was informed about the issue around Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial had already left, and then I was aware that within four days we had some strikers missing and that it might make sense [to buy],” Rangnick told reporters.
“We were still in three competitions – the FA Cup, the Champions League, at the time we were fourth in the league…
“I spoke to the board and told them, ‘Shouldn’t we at least speak and analyse and find if we can at least get a player, on loan or a permanent deal?’
“In the end, the answer was no. The answer was no, maybe they didn’t want to do any winter [business]. It doesn’t matter, the answer was no.”
United didn’t make any signings in January and ended up falling away dramatically. They spent most of February in fourth place but won just three of their last 12 Premier League outings. They also lost their last six away games, a dire run that has continued at the start of the 2022-23 campaign.
Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen have arrived to bolster new boss Erik ten Hag’s squad, but they continue to search for a forward.
Wantaway 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and Antony Martial – who scored just one league goal last season – are their only current strikers. The club have also lost Edinson Cavani, who left on a free in the summer, while Greenwood remains suspended due to an ongoing legal matter.
“I don’t know. But as I said, maybe we should have at least internally discussed it. It might be necessary and important…,” Rangnick responded when asked if the three names he…
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