Manchester United might have already replaced two players who will leave this summer

Manchester United have played 52 matches this season, and Alejandro Garnacho has now played in 51 of them. There were questions over how he would fit into a Ruben Amorim side, but it is credit to him that he has managed to earn a regular place in it.

The only time the 20-year-old has missed a matchday squad this season is when he and Marcus Rashford were both dropped from the Manchester derby win over Man City in December due to ‘selection reasons’. Rashford responded by seeking a new challenge in his professional career, Garnacho did so by working hard to prove he still had a role to play under Amorim. Both Rashford and Garnacho could have left the club in the January transfer window, and United could yet sell them both for a huge financial reward in the summer. It doesn’t mean they should.

Despite all of his flaws, it is hard to argue the Argentine should be sold when he is so important to their first-team squad and the only forward who regularly looks capable of making something happen in the forward line. Even on a day when things didn’t click against Wolves, he was the only one who looked like making anything happen.

Fredricson could replace departing duo

It felt like a good opportunity for Manchester United to hand out another academy debut against Wolves, but few would have expected it to be Tyler Fredricson rather than Godwill Kukonki or Jack Moorhouse. The 20-year-old has had to wait for his chance in the United side but was the shock player to be named in the starting line up.

Fredricson has been a steady performer at youth level but has never had the same excitement as the likes of Kukonki and Ayden Heaven have. To name him on the bench was one thing, for him to be included in the starting line up was a bold decision that showed just how highly he is rated by Ruben Amorim.

The youngster justified his start with an impressive performance on the pitch, as he dealt with the physical demands of the Premier League and appeared unfazed by the enormity of the occasion. In a summer when Victor Lindelof will leave and Jonny Evans will retire, Amorim already has a replacement for both of them.

A rare rest

Ruben Amorim warned he would rest some key players for their clash with Wolves, but it was still somewhat of a surprise when the team sheet dropped and Bruno Fernandes was named on the bench. The Portuguese playmaker is the most influential player at the club and is certain to win the Sir Matt Busby award for a joint-record fourth time, which will put him equal with both David de Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo.

He has 17 goals and 18 assists for the club this season, and while his influence goes far beyond his goal contributions, it is a relevant reminder of how often he has bailed them out under Amorim, as he did under previous managers. To rest him against Wolves was always going to reduce their control and creativity in the clash, though it was still justified so that he could be at his optimum for the matches that matter.

Fernandes did not do much, even when he was introduced from the bench. It will quickly be forgotten if he helps them reach the Europa League final next month.

The type of striker United need

Manchester United have prioritised the addition of a striker this summer, and this was another reminder of just how important it is that they sign the right one. It is not enough to sign someone with a better record than Rasmus Hojlund, they must also sign someone who has the physical traits to lead the line and the intelligence to time their runs into the box.

Even though opportunities were at a premium against Wolves, they could easily have led by a goal or two at half-time if they had a centre-forward to connect with excellent crosses from both Harry Amass and Patrick Dorgu. Those frustrations continued after the break when Hojlund produced an exquisite piece of skill to beat Emmanuel Agbadou out wide, only to inexplicably slow the play down and ignore a simple pass to Dorgu, who was in acres of space to his right.

Next season will be the Dane’s third at Old Trafford, and he can no longer get a pass as a player with untapped potential when there have been no signs of progress. There is still a role he can play as a back-up striker, with starts against less physical opponents, but this summer United have to sign a striker who can cope with the physical demands of the Premier League and get onto the end of crosses into the box.

Liam Delap might be the preferred target at the moment, and while he would be an upgrade on Hojlund, they might need someone who is even more experienced.

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