Owen Hargreaves made the point on the back of Manchester United's 2-0 defeat away to Hull City in the Premier League opener on 2026-08-22. He said United could do with another striker option, and the game backed him up: Benjamin Sesko was benched after a shin injury over the summer, while Matheus Cunha led the line but played deeper than a natural striker role.
Hargreaves, speaking on Metro, said: "I think they could probably do with another striker option." He added: "Today where they had possession of the ball they didn’t look like scoring. I think it will be easier when the space opens up. Today there wasn’t that." Alan Shearer was just as direct, saying United were "dreadful in all positions, particularly up front. They offered nothing."
United's shortage up front
United are already 16th in the Premier League table with zero points after one game, so the opening-day loss has put an immediate edge on the striker talk. Sesko has only one league appearance so far and just 23 Premier League minutes, which leaves United with little cover if they want a more natural penalty-box presence.
That is why Hargreaves' warning lands properly. The issue was not only the result at Hull, but how little threat United carried when they had the ball. Shearer also said there was "only one team going to win" and that United needed to match the promoted side's intensity.
Tresoldi interest is already live
The transfer angle is moving at the same time. Chelsea and United have both made an approach for Nicolò Tresoldi, with Club Brugge KV reportedly asking for between €40m and €50m, described in the article as £34m to £43m, to sanction his exit.
Tresoldi scored 23 goals for Brugge last season, including 19 in the Belgian Pro League, and he already has 24 Germany U21 caps and 12 goals at that level. Those numbers explain why he has been pulled into the Premier League conversation, even if there is no suggestion United are guaranteed to land him.
The more immediate point is still United's need. They do not look settled through the middle, and the next league game will bring another chance to see whether Sesko is ready to become a real option or whether the club keep looking at the market before the window shuts.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
