Micah Richards believes an overhaul of Manchester United’s squad is needed after their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
Ruben Amorim’s side were hoping to salvage an embarrassing season by winning the Europa League and securing an unlikely return to the Champions League.
But instead it was Spurs who put their dismal domestic form to one side and lifted a trophy for the first time in 17 years thanks to Brennan Johnson’s scruffy first-half goal.
If Ruben Amorim keeps his job at Old Trafford – and that is not guaranteed – he will hope to welcome several new signings to his squad this summer.
Amorim has sanctioned a £62.5m move for Wolves’ Brazilian star Matheus Cunha and also wants to sign a new striker.
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England legend Alan Shearer, however, believes that should be just the start of Manchester United’s summer transfer plans.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast after United’s defeat in Bilbao, Shearer said: ‘They need to spend big in four positions.
‘They need a new goalkeeper, a new centre half, they definitely need some new midfielders and obviously a top striker so there’s the four important positions.’
Ex-Manchester City defender Richards agreed with Shearer and said Amorim should also be on the lookout for a new wing-back to replace Portugal international Diogo Dalot.
‘I think they need two new wing-backs as well,’ Richards said.
‘Dalot has done alright in spells but they need players who can go into a low block but when they attack know how to get the best out of that position in terms of a delivery into the box.
‘How many times have we analysed them this season and they can’t get a ball into the box and it’s mishit or pulled back into the wrong area.
‘This is not me saying the United players are bad but they’re bad in this system that the manager is persisting with and that’s the problem.’
Richards added: ‘The big question for me is will players want to go there and play in that system?
‘It’s hindering the players at the moment. Hojlund up front by himself gets no service. The wing-backs don’t deliver the ball into the box at the right times.
‘United are basically just waiting for a moment of magic from Bruno Fernandes every game. I can’t see the top, top players wanting to go there this summer.’
Richard’s said the Europa League final was ‘one of the worst finals he’s watched’ but gave credit to Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou for grinding out a result.
While defending his management earlier in the season, Postecoglou pointed out how he ‘always wins a trophy’ in his second season at a club and the win in Bilbao kept that particular record in tact.
‘The game was terrible, it was one of the worst finals I’ve ever watched, but Spurs won’t care at all,’ Richards said.
‘We saw one manager (Postecoglou) tweak his style of play and it paid off so congrats to him and Tottenham.’
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