Manchester United are UNBALANCED... they look anything but serious about winning the Premier League!

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Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao have left this summer
Angel di Maria is following them out of the Old Trafford exit door
Manchester United look short of attacking options with no new striker
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Published: 02:03 EST, 4 August 2015 | Updated: 06:39 EST, 4 August 2015

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I’m surprised Manchester United’s squad looks so unbalanced with the season about to get under way. There is still time in the window, of course, but when you’re trying to leap from seventh to fourth to champions in quick succession, surely you need to hit the ground running and have your squad totally ready.

Last summer Louis van Gaal was late arriving at the club because of the World Cup but this time there are no excuses.

Why wasn’t the Angel di Maria deal done earlier? Were they waiting to see how he performed in the Copa America? Well he was one of Argentina’s better players in their run to the final so that can’t have been the reason.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal needs to add more balance to his squad

Angel di Maria (left) is on his way to PSG while Radamel Falcao (centre) and Robin van Persie have left United

Having lost Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie, United look light up front. Wayne Rooney is of course the main man, but if he is injured, where do United turn? Memphis Depay could be the answer, and from what we’ve seen so far he has talent. But he’s 21, so expectations should be kept reasonable.

Javier Henrandez is one of the few left at the club who played on that infamous night at MK Dons a year ago. It will be impressive if he can persuade Van Gaal he’s a credible option.

And then there’s James Wilson whose struggles show just how impressive a feat it is to make your way from the youth team to the first team at a top club and have an impact. In time it may come good for Wilson. His honest endeavor wins support, that’s for sure.

But here’s my question on United: are they serious title contenders? Have they done enough this summer to convince you that they are going all out to make up the ground on Chelsea and snatch the Premier League crown?

Memphis Depay joined United this summer but he is only 21 and not too much should be expected of him

Memphis Depay: I want to be a Manchester United legend

If your football opinion is based on adding up pounds spent and deciding who will win the title then sure United have spent big. But closer analysis is needed of exactly where the money has gone.

Their defence was utterly awful last season, and when a centre half warrior was needed, nobody came to fill that role and the season is about to start. Even if that player arrives now, wouldn’t it have been better to get him in early to go on tour and blend in ready for the start of the season?

The goalkeeper situation isn’t a problem – if David de Gea stays. But if he leaves late in the window then that is a massive blow for United.

Full backs look good, if Luke Shaw stays fit. Matteo Darmian on the other side has been impressive in pre-season.

Bastian Schweinsteiger has been brought to Old Trafford to help strengthen the midfield

The Michael Carrick position was a problem last season when he was out, but with Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger that has been addressed. Could Van Gaal be set to convert Carrick into a full time centre half I wonder? His lack of speed might make that a questionable decision.

Ander Herrera,Juan Mata and Depay have creativity but even Van Gaal admitted recently he wants another creative player. And there is room for one, if not two strikers.

Plan B, Marouane Fellaini, is still there of course.

At the start of the summer it would have been reasonable to suggest United needed to strengthen at centre half, but they haven’t done that.

Matteo Darmian joined Manchester United this summer and has looked impressive in pre-season

Given that two top international strikers have left, and another top-class creative player has also departed, United have a shortfall in the attacking third of the pitch.

I’ll repeat that the window is still open, but with pre-season complete, and the campaign about to get under way for real, United have to be ready to get going straight away if they are serious about leapfrogging three teams and wiping out Chelsea’s 17-point advantage over them last season.

Last year United lost on the opening day and won only one of their first five matches. I’m surprised Van Gaal is risking a repeat this time around.

The manager is something United do have in their favour. He has achieved success from unlikely positions before. But as things stand, with the season opener looming, Manchester United look anything but serious about winning the Premier League. It’ll be a major achievement for Van Gaal if he gets this lot to lift the title this season.