Paul Ince identifies four Man Utd players he is worried about, and picks out lack of pace in the team

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The transfer window is underway and Manchester United have made one signing, but former midfielder Paul Ince is eager to see the team boosted further ahead of the new season.

Ruben Amorim and his Manchester United players have had some time off this summer to reflect on a terrible 2024/25 season for the football club. The Red Devils lost the Europa League final and finished 15th in the Premier League.

Last season’s shortcomings mean there will be no Champions League football for a second consecutive season. Ineos will want to give United’s head coach every chance possible of avoiding that for a third campaign in a row by adding quality to the squad in the transfer window.

United did that early on by signing Matheus Cunha from Wolves. The Brazilian forward scored 17 goals in the Premier League last season and is expected to play as one of the No. 10s in Amorim’s preferred system, just like he did at Molineux last term to great effect.

The Reds also want Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, but there have been several stumbling blocks. Ineos know what is needed to complete the Mbeumo deal, but it is taking time to complete following the rejection of a second bid.

Paul Ince concerned about Man Utd quartet

After a terrible season, United fans have concerns about many players in the squad.

Not all opinions are shared, but everyone will agree that the Reds massively underperformed and Amorim had an extremely difficult first six months at Old Trafford.

There is optimism that results will improve next season, and former United midfielder Ince believes Amorim needs to add pace to his team as well as players who are available more often than not.

The four players singled out by Ince include Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Lisandro Martinez.

“I don’t think they have got enough pace in the team,” Ince told United In Focus.

“Maguire is not the quickest at the back. Shaw is always injured. Mount has been injured with few opportunities, so the jury is still out. I think he’s a top player, but he needs to start showing what a good player he is. Luke Shaw needs to try to play a season without being injured.

“Martinez has been injured for the whole season. You sign players because you want them to play 50 games a season. You don’t want players who are going to get injured, be out for six months. This is what I’m seeing at United.”

Maguire is one of the four players who didn’t have the worst of seasons in 2024/25, as some of his stats prove.

Shaw, Mount and Martinez all know that they need to be available more often next season. Otherwise, they won’t be able to contribute, plus Amorim doesn’t want to be making injuries an excuse for poor results.

Criticism aside, Ince was in favour of Cunha joining United, citing the Brazilian’s qualities that include ball carrying and finishing.

What would make 2025/26 a success for Man Utd?

Amorim knows he is expected to get results next season.

There will be fewer games midweek due to having no European football, so this means more time on the training ground with the coaching staff and less excuses about having too many matches.

Ince believes United can only call a season a success if they are winning league titles or the Champions League.

As the biggest football club in England, Ince makes a valid point and shows the mentality he built during his time playing under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

“Success at United is winning trophies and competing for the biggest titles in the Premier League and Champions League. There’s no other successful season,” Ince added.

“What United need to do is catch Manchester City but they’re actually getting further and further away. In the past five or six years, teams like Villa have got stronger. Teams like Newcastle got stronger. We see Forest up there this year and Spurs will get stronger, so we’re not just talking about City and Liverpool.

“There’s about six teams that have got competitive. Success at United has always been about winning things. No excuses. No excuse whatsoever. So unless they’re doing that, it’s not going to be successful.

“You can win a trophy here and there. But that’s not the best. That’s not the message we want to send to the United fans, the best fans, who want to see us at the top, fighting, competing, looking up.”