Roy Keane has cast serious doubts on Manchester United's title aspirations following their summer transfer activity. The Red Devils' former captain is especially concerned about the state of their defence.
With the departure of Casemiro and the serious injury to Manuel Ugarte, United have shifted their focus to strengthening their midfield. New signings include Andre Santos from Chelsea for £48 million and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35 million, while Carlos Baleba from Brighton looks set to be the next addition.
Keane acknowledged that Baleba’s signing could give Michael Carrick a more versatile midfield, but he remains sceptical about whether this is enough to mount a credible title challenge:
My take on strengthening the squad and Manchester United's title ambitions? I think a solid midfield is a fair assessment. But when it comes to winning the championship, I don’t think that's enough. The main problems lie with United's defence. They have a serious attacking threat in midfield and up front. Last season, they were great going forward, especially after Carrick's arrival.
But the issues at the back remain. The full-backs and the two centre-backs still raise major concerns. On paper, the midfielders look like very good players. But can this midfield win a title? Probably not. I just don’t see it.
The former United captain also shared his thoughts on the acquisition of Tielemans, describing the £35 million fee for an experienced player familiar with Premier League demands as sensible, yet he does not see the Belgian as capable of elevating the team to a championship level:
I think he’s a good player. But I don’t see this transfer as one that can lead to triumph in the league.
Tielemans is a solid option for United. In recent years, the club has brought in players at exorbitant prices and paid them hefty wages — Casemiro is a prime example. Tielemans knows the Premier League, he’s a good international player. He’s come to Old Trafford with Villa and found success, so he won’t be fazed by the pressure.
But can he return United to the summit? No.
Thus, even if Manchester United completes the signing of Baleba, Keane believes that reinforcing their defence should be the club's next critical objective. Without addressing their defensive issues, the former midfielder doesn't see Carrick's team as genuine title contenders in the Premier League.
