There was just a touch of the Louis van Gaal about Manchester United's 0-0 draw with West Brom on Saturday.

The Red Devils created chance after chance, but this was an all too familiar outcome, the likes of which Jose Mourinho has tried so hard to banish.

As United languish in fifth place, Champions League football next season looks increasingly unlikely unless they go all the way in the Europa League.

Unsurprisingly, that has seen Mourinho cast one eye tentatively towards the summer transfer window.

The Portuguese has had an awful lot to do in his first season at the helm, but next term, his excuses will not wash and expectations will rise again.

It's no secret that his master plan over the next few months includes the capture of Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid.

The Frenchman has a relatively slow start to the season, but he's since scored 22 goals and assisted another nine.

Put simply, it's hard to envisage United lacking that cutting edge if he moves to Old Trafford.

"It's a bit embarrassing"

Things should also improve once Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns from suspension, but Jamie Carragher insists all this is a damning indictment of the attacking players already who have featured over the last few games.

"There’s talk of [Antoine] Griezmann coming in, but Martial was a lot of money,” Carragher said on Sky Sports, quoted by the Manchester Evening News.

"[Marcus] Rashford, certainly was last year the wonderkid, and I think he’ll be a fantastic player. [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan is there – we’re talking about top-level players.

"It is strange that they are having these major problems, without Zlatan, that personality, that presence, I think it’s a bit embarrassing for those players who are playing that they feel they need a 35-year-old centre-forward.

Zlatan still reigns supreme 

"It’s a big worry that you’re still relying on a man who’s been one of the best players in the league this season, but he’s 35.

"The fact these younger players are in there and can’t seem to cope when he’s not there, it doesn’t bode well for them."

A lot of fans will sympathise with Rashford. The M.E.N also report that the 19-year-old has been staying behind for extra shooting practice after training, so there's clearly nothing wrong with his attitude.

And yet, Carragher is unfortunately spot on. Unless the likes of Rashford, Mkhitaryan, and Martial start scoring more regularly, they're going to continue to find themselves upstaged.