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Brian Kerr on the positions Man United need to address for next season

Brian Kerr says he expects Manchester United to improve in a number of departments in the coming ...



Brian Kerr on the positions Ma...
Soccer

Brian Kerr on the positions Man United need to address for next season

Brian Kerr says he expects Manchester United to improve in a number of departments in the coming months, as they look forward to a season that will include Champions League football next term.

The former Republic of Ireland manager told OTB Sports today that he feels Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will dip into the market, and the key areas of concern are obvious.

"The standard one is 'We only need two or three new players'. How many managers say that, in every league?

"It has been a fairly dramatic improvement since [Bruno] Fernandes came. Just suppose anything happened to him early next season, would they go back or would they go forward with what they have?

"He has been the catalyst for great improvement around the rest of them. Suddenly [Nemanja] Matic has looked quite a competent holding midfield player.

"The top part of the pitch certainly does look very good at the moment. They're relying on young players, Martial, Rashford and Greenwood.

"Lingard I'd say wouldn't have a great future at Manchester United, based on recent times. The obvious bit is the goalkeeper hasn't been reliable this season.

"They conceded 36 goals, but goals in important matches, and against teams they need to be beating. They've a good record against the teams around them, it's the rest of the teams they weren't consistent against.

"Obviously they need another centre-back, they need a goalkeeper, and they need a midfield player. But they seem to have the resources that they can go and get them.

"There's talk of getting [Jadon] Sancho, that would give them another very good attacking player. There aren't so many centre-backs around that would definitely be better than Maguire and Lindelof.

"A lot of teams are looking for that extra centre-back, Liverpool got their man [van Dijk] and it has made a huge difference."

Kerr addressed criticism of England international Harry Maguire of late, saying it's not completely warranted.

"[Harry] Maguire has come in for a bit of criticism, he's not been brilliant, he's not been as good as van Dijk, but he's done alright, and the pairing [with Lindelof] has been reasonable.

"The full-backs are improving, [Brandon] Williams is improving, [Luke] Shaw is improving when he's playing. Can they get one or two or three [more players in]? I think they can, and certainly the front part of [the team] is very exciting."


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