Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that Wednesday's 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid highlighted the club's need to sign a new centre-forward during this summer's transfer window.
Jude Bellingham sent Los Blancos ahead in the sixth minute of the contest in Texas before Joselu's spectacular overhead kick saw the Spanish giants score a second in the latter stages.
Marcus Rashford started through the middle against Carlo Ancelotti's side, while Jadon Sancho played the final 30 minutes in that position, but the Red Devils lacked a cutting edge.
Man United have allegedly submitted their first offer for Atalanta BC's Rasmus Hojlund, with the Denmark international seen as the club's leading target this summer.
Ten Hag has admitted that the defeat to Real Madrid was a further demonstration of why the club are desperate to sign a new centre-forward before the end of the transfer window.
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"Absolutely [the game shows why we are in the market for a new forward]. It's always difficult to say. We are working 24-7. We do and everyone, well not everyone, but a lot in the club, and we give all the power to get this done," Ten Hag told reporters during his post-match press conference.
"We never talk about players under contract with another club, so we have our targets in the background. We are busy with it to get the right player to sign a contract for us."
Ten Hag also reflected on the defeat, with Man United now preparing to face Borussia Dortmund in their final match on tour before heading back to England.
"That was good [the physicality]. That is the benefit from today. You play on a high level, high intensity. Two competitive teams and that is what you need to prepare for the league," he said.
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"We conceded an injury [to Kobbie Mainoo] and then we conceded, quickly, a goal. I think, after that, we found ourselves in the game. I think it was head to head, although there is definitely room for improvement.
"I think the pressing could be better. We have done that much better against Arsenal. We can be more compact. On the ball, we can be calm. Nevertheless, we created chances. But we didn't score.
"There were two things (to improve). The pressing can be better from the start and scoring goals. I think we need more players who are capable to be in one-on-one.
"And we had the situations, one-on-ones. I thought Scott McTominay [had a] one-on-one situation [and] Alejandro Garnacho [had a] one-on-one situation and, from these situations, you have to score."
Man United will take on Borussia Dortmund on Sunday before facing Lens and Athletic Bilbao in their final two friendlies of the summer on August 5 and August 6 respectively.
Matt Law
