Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen has admitted he believes the club made a huge mistake in letting Danny Welbeck join Premier League rivals Arsenal last summer.
The 35-year-old believes the Red Devils can only rely on Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie for the upcoming season, despite United’s attacking force being their most dangerous asset over recent seasons.
After Radamel Falcao’s departure and James Wilson expected to join on loan, Louis van Gaal is likely to dip into the transfer window for a new forward.
After progressing through the youth ranks, Welbeck made a £16 million move to the Emirates Stadium last summer, and despite finding the net just four times in the league last term, he has been praised for his contributions to the team.
The 24-year-old struggled to compete with United’s attacking line-up, and was subsequently forced to feature out wide in order to find game time. Welbeck previously said he enjoyed the new opportunities with the North London outfit, and Owen feels it was a bad sale for van Gaal.
“They are going to have some issues in the striking position,” he said. “Falcao has gone, Robin van Persie is on the wane and then what? Wayne Rooney is a reliable goal threat, but he is not going to be around forever.
“They have a huge void up front and after letting Danny Welbeck go. You quickly realise they need to spend a whole lot more to compete and they have already spent a lot since Van Gaal arrived.”
Owen was also very critical of the Dutchman’s inaugural season, and some feel his claims were unjustified and unwarranted. The forward spent three years with the Red Devils, and scored 17 goals in 52 appearances.
“I thought it was a disappointing season for Manchester United,” Owen added. “They were knocked out of the cup competition with ease and a little embarrassment if we look at the MK Dons defeat in the Capital One Cup.
“They didn’t have Champions League football to distract them, yet they sneaked into fourth place after spending so much money last summer.
“They were not comparable to the Man United teams we have come to expect under Sir Alex Ferguson and I just don’t know how they are going to perform in the Premier League and Champions League next season, assuming they get through the playoff.
“If they had started the season poorly and got better through to the end, you might think they are moving forward, but I still don’t know what their identity is. I still don’t know what type of team they are. Are they meant to have flying wingers, are they meant to be strong in midfield? What is a Louis van Gaal Man United team?”
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