Man Utd's midfield woes laid bare by Arsenal loss and key injuries... Solskjaer needs transfer certainties

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The good news for Manchester United fans is that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finally accepts his midfield is in need of urgent address.

The bad news is this realisation may have come too late.

Injury to Scott McTominay and the revelation that Paul Pogba requires surgery on his ankle means United are facing the foreseeable future without their two best midfielders.

Considering January alone includes a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City, an FA Cup third-round meeting with Wolves and a trip to Anfield to face champions-elect Liverpool, it’s not a good time for Solskjaer to be without the heart of his team.

And considering United’s midfield looked woefully short of quality and quantity before the season even began, it was tantamount to an act of neglect to fail to add to that department last summer.

In Pictures | Arsenal vs Manchester United | 01/01/2020

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After all, Solskjaer had already overseen the departures of the experienced Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera since succeeding Jose Mourinho.

The ageing legs of Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic always looked out of place with the high-energy game the Norwegian promised to bring to United.

And the need for a top-class no10 is long-standing.

In that sense it is remarkable Solskjaer didn’t bring in a single midfield addition, even before the wantaway Pogba’s ankle and foot injuries ruled him out for the majority of the season and left him having to resort to basketball and wedding dances to fill his time.

United are convinced they have cracked their recruitment process, but their failure to strengthen in the middle of the pitch is undermining their pursuit of a top-four finish.

Solskjaer said after the New Year’s Day defeat to Arsenal that he is working on “one or two” possibilities in the January window.

Frankly, possibilities won’t do. United need certainties to save their season.

They retain an interest Sean Longstaff after Newcastle’s £50million valuation saw Solskjaer shelve his pursuit in the summer.

Leicester’s James Maddison is a leading target at no10, but United are aware that the England international will be out of reach until the end of the season at least.

Declan Rice is another emerging England star with big admirers at Old Trafford.

Benfica’s Gedson Fernandes was not considered high on Solskjaer’s wanted list, despite strong links over Christmas, but the current injury crisis could change that.

Juventus midfielder Emre Can is another option Solskjaer has looked at, while Christian Eriksen could yet be revisited after United missed out on him late in the summer.

Matic was widely expected to go this month, but that now looks in doubt.

He was praised by Solskjaer for his performance at the Emirates, while Fred’s development has been a timely boost for United’s manager.

Yet the Arsenal game underlined United's ongoing issues in central midfield – particularly from a creative perspective.

Key absentees: Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay
Getty Images

BT pundit and former United defender Rio Ferdinand emphasised that point, saying: “One of the common factors in the game was Man United players on the ball, in the middle part of the pitch especially, were not looking forward for the runners.

"Because Man United were making some very good runs and for a forward that’s demoralising.”

United sources continue to urge caution over the possibility of recruiting midway through the season, but Solskjaer has sounded increasingly optimistic about the window.

And while the club’s hierarchy refuse to be forced into any panic buys, if January is allowed to come and go without any additions then that really will be cause for alarm.

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