Ralf Rangnick's brutal assessment of Manchester United still rings true after Bournemouth draw

The pressure was on Man Utd to secure a positive result versus Bournemouth and the points were shared on the south coast.

Willy Kambwala's marking of Dominic Solanke always had the potential to be a mismatch.

The Bournemouth forward has been in excellent form this season and impressed when scoring at Old Trafford in December, so Kambwala was expected to be challenged. Kambwala was superb against Liverpool last weekend and performed admirably against a pacy attack loaded with talent, but the physically imposing Solanke represented a different type of striker to deal with and it didn't take long for him to make his mark on Saturday evening.

Bournemouth wasted no time in getting Solanke involved and Manchester United received early warning signs of what was to come from the 26-year-old. Solanke won an early duel with Kambwala and headed just over the bar, before finding the back of the net just a few moments later as the defender slipped to the turf.

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There was an element of rotten luck for Kambwala, who slipped to the ground on the watered pitch, but he did seem to panic as Solanke hurled his way toward the ball. Harry Maguire encouraged Kambwala as the players trudged back for the restart and he regained his composure. However, you'd struggle to find a fan who doesn't think that United need to sign a quality centre-back, someone who can start every week, in the summer.

Kambwala only made his United debut in December. His displays have been laudable when called upon and he's certainly staked a claim to have a squad role next season. Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans, who both missed the game through injury, are out of contract at the end of the season and both look likely to depart.

Victor Lindelof was another absentee through injury and he's always been a squad player at best, so it's finally time to move him on, more than seven years since he signed. Lisandro Martinez was one of United's best players last season, but he's been plagued by different injury problems and it's unclear whether such issues will persist.

Although Martinez is the first name on the team sheet when he's fit, he's made just seven starts in the league this season and perhaps can't be relied upon to be available. Doubts remain over Maguire's long-term future after he came close to leaving last summer, with West Ham submitting a bid for the former club captain.

Inevitably, there will be defensive upheaval in the summer transfer window and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's new hierarchy must sign a centre-back who is always available. On the evidence of this season, Maguire should be kept, Kambwala can contribute and Martinez will be at the top of the pecking order, based on his first year.

Another centre-half needs to arrive to partner Martinez at the heart of the backline and Maguire and Kambwala - the starting pair at Bournemouth - could deputise.

It's obvious United need a centre-half but strengthening the attack and midfield is also required, which means a new core of the team could be brought in. Ralf Rangnick famously said United needed 'open heart surgery' when he was interim manager and not much has changed since the German left his position in 2022.