Andy Cole points out fatal flaw in Man Utd’s transfer policy and moans ‘we’re better than that’
ANDY COLE has hit out at Manchester United’s recruitment policy that has left them without a striker at the top of his game.
The Red Devils are currently hunting the market to get in a top number nine after being priced out the race to land Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund and Spurs' Harry Kane.
But treble winner Cole, now an ambassador for United, says that the club’s lack of foresight in getting a good young striker earlier has left them in this predicament.
Cole said: “I'm not going to say that if Harry Kane became available for the right money I'd turn him down, obviously not.
“But I think what Manchester United have been doing, for the past five or six years, is bringing people in who are in their mid-30s or late 30s for a couple of years, then we do it again the season after and we do it again.
“That's why we've found ourselves in this position now. Long-term, we've not looked for that young centre forward who can carry Manchester United in for the next five to 10 years or whatever it may be.”
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In recent years United have brought in players in their 30s at the end of their careers with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Last season they even hauled in Wout Weghorst, now 30, who was on loan at Besiktas from Burnley. He scored twice in 31 appearances for United.
In his prime Cole was one of four strikers in their prime that Sir Alex Ferguson could call on alongside Dwight Yorke, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham.
He said: “That's what Manchester United has been built on - the manager going into a season with three or four strikers.”
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“You're guaranteed what you're going to get. You might move someone else on, but you've got someone at that age who can carry the club forward.”
“For instance, my position, I moved on, Ruud van Nistelrooy was there and went on for many years.”
“But we're buying older centre forwards for a hell of a lot of money and then find ourselves in the same position a couple of years later. This is Manchester United – we're better than that.”
Last season United relied on Marcus Rashford for the goals while Anthony Martial was constantly in and out the team injured.
Former captain Bryan Robson admits that it is a situation that needs sorting out if United are going to challenge for the title again.
Last season they finished third but with 58 goals were the lowest scorers in the top six
Robson said: “Everybody connected to the club, everybody within the club, is talking about the fact we need a centre forward.
“We need to catch up with Manchester City, even Arsenal – Newcastle score a lot more goals than us.
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“So defensively, we are looking pretty good, but you've got to score goals to win games and get up there challenging for the title.
“We all know that, so hopefully we can get a few people out of the door for decent money and can get the funds that are needed to bring a striker in, because everybody knows we need a striker."
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