Hargreaves urges Man Utd to sign a striker after toothless opening-day loss at Hull

Manchester United were held scoreless by newly promoted Hull City on the opening day of the Premier League season, and former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes the result has exposed a glaring gap in Michael Carrick’s squad: a genuine No. 9.

Hargreaves pointed to United’s reliance on Matheus Cunha as the central striker as a key problem. Cunha, he argued, is more naturally a No. 10 who operates effectively from the left, and without a true focal point in attack, United were stifled against a Hull side that sat deep and offered little space to exploit on the counter.

“I think they could probably do with another striker option,” Hargreaves said. “I think that showed today — Sesko didn’t start and Cunha played a little bit deeper. He’s a 10, and plays very effective off the left.”

Benjamin Sesko, who started on the bench, was introduced only in the final quarter of the match, while Marcus Rashford also came on as a substitute. Neither could alter the outcome.

Hargreaves drew a pointed comparison to the early highlights of Carrick’s tenure, when United thrived on the counter-attack against top opposition. “They were at their best last season counter-attacking teams — remember Carrick’s first games against City and Arsenal,” he said. “Today where they had possession of the ball they didn’t look like scoring. I think they go back to the drawing board and look at what they can do differently.”

United’s transfer activity this summer has been concentrated in midfield. Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos both started in the defeat at Hull, and a deal has been agreed with Brighton for Carlos Baleba, who is set to become the club’s third midfield signing of the window.

Carrick was tight-lipped when asked about further incomings. “I had all eyes on this today, so any other player, at any other club — until he’s ours, it’s not for me to comment on that,” he said. “If there’s anything to be announced on any player, I’m sure you’ll be the first to know.”

With the window still open, the pressure is now on United’s recruitment team to address the attacking void before the deadline.