Ian Wright believes Manchester United need to improve their defence if they’re to stand any chance of launching a title challenge this season and says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should rival Manchester City for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Red Devils have made just one signing so far this summer following the £40m acquisition of Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek.
However, Solskjaer wants to make a further three signings as the Norwegian had been keen on signing a centre forward, a left-back and a right winger.
With just three weeks left of the transfer market, United have plenty of business to conduct if they’re to strengthen their squad but Wright believes they’re looking in the wrong areas and should be targeting Koulibaly instead.
‘We saw with the one signing in [Bruno] Fernandes that it all changed for Manchester United,’ Wright told Premier League Productions.
‘But for me in the defensive point of view they’re still very weak. We’re hearing City might get Koulibaly but they’ve [United] got to be going in there trying to do that, they’ve got to be trying to do that deal.
‘Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a fanststic defender but [Victor] Lindelof and [Harry] Maguire and the left side [Luke Shaw] – those three are there for the taking.
‘If you’re to challenge those teams [Liverpool & Manchester City] they’ve got to be a lot stronger. it’s not strong enough for me at the moment.’
United’s priority target is Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho but the Germans are holding firm on their £108m valuation of the England midfielder.
However, Wright believes United have enough options in attack and he’s urged Solskjaer to follow Liverpool’s lead in how they sold Philippe Coutinho in favour of signing Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk.
‘They’ve got Fernandes, they’ve got Pogba,’ said Wright.
‘As much as Sancho, we’re seeing great things. Man United need to do what Liverpool did – address the problems and then go from there.’
City are confident of signing Koulibaly but their relationship with Napoli is strained after difficult negotiations in 2018 for midfielder Jorginho.
The Italy international eventually joined Chelsea after talks collapsed between the two sides but Koulibaly is keen to join City, who are prepared to pay £80m.
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