Erik ten Hag assessment after Wolves win shows Man Utd summer transfer priority

Erik ten Hag admitted Manchester United must be ‘more clinical’ as it will make ‘life easier’ for his side, in the wake of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It was a game the Red Devils never looked in any real threat of failing to win, although that was as much down to Wolves’ inability to attack with penetration. The Midlands club failed to produce a shot on target all afternoon at Old Trafford. In contrast, United had nine, with 27 in total.

That the Red Devils came away with a two-goal win somewhat overshadows how profligate they were against Wolves, and had Alejandro Garnacho not netted in injury-time, the final few minutes could have been a nervous affair for the majority inside the stadium.

Of United’s 25 spurned efforts, Antony was most accountable, with the Brazilian failing to hit the target from an early counter-attack and he should have tested Dan Bentley with a back-post header in the latter stages of the first half. After the break, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho and Wout Weghorst also missed gilt-edged chances, continuing a worrying trend for United.

Prior to Saturday, United had drawn blanks in their last two and had netted three in six. That run coincided with a downturn in Marcus Rashford’s form, and Ten Hag has already acknowledged this season that United are too reliant on the England international’s goal output.

With Rashford missing Saturday’s match through injury and no update on when he’s set to return, it’s no exaggeration to say the success of United’s season could be dependent on Antony, Sancho and Anthony Martial’s reliability in front of goal over the next three matches.

“Once again we make the goalkeeper of the opponent the man of the match. Iwas the case two games ago against Brighton - it was the case many other games,” Ten Hag reflected after the Wolves victory. “We have to be more clinical and we have to net easier. For a 1-0, the second goal makes your life easier and we have to improve on that definitely.”

The United boss also hinted on Friday that he has already begun reaching out to prospective summer transfer targets, and the Wolves encounter, one in which United defended well, created plenty of scoring opportunities but failed to wrap things up in a timely manner, highlighted once again what the transfer priority must be for Ten Hag.

A clinical no.9 arriving this summer really could push United from a top-four chasing side to one which is capable of competing with the division’s top teams for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.

Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen have already been identified as the club’s chief targets in the market, with Tottenham Hotspur’s reluctance to sell to a Premier League rival meaning it’s the Napoli frontman who looks more likely to join at this stage.

Regardless of which striker does arrive in the window, the need for a new top-quality centre-forward was highlighted again on Saturday - as is the need for the takeover process to be wrapped up immediately.

The uncertainty surrounding the ownership situation has already seen United fall behind Liverpool in their pursuit for Alexis Mac Allister, but missing out on their first-choice no.9 could prove catastrophic for Ten Hag’s second campaign in charge.