It’s been a tough old decade for Manchester United fans since they last won the Premier League in the 2012/13 season.
Following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson at the close of that successful season, the Red Devils have gone through three ‘permanent’ managers, before settling on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2018. During that time the club has spent over £1bn in transfer payments and for the return of one FA Cup, one League Cup and one Europa League. The clubs owners, the Glazer family, have been vilified by a large section of their fans but few other teams have the spending power and owners and fans alike should expect more success.
Things have gradually improved under the guidance of Solskjaer, Manchester United finished second in the league last term, though 12 points behind a coasting Manchester City, but how close are the Red Devils to a return of the glory days when they ruled England?
Build from the back
Last season was the most successful in four years for the club but the pressure is now on OGS to deliver. As Liverpool did when they turned an attractive attacking also-ran into runaway champions, Manchester United needs to improve its defence. It looks like they are taking the right steps with the imminent arrival of France centre back Raphael Varane. A deal is reportedly agreed to bring Varane from Real Madrid to Old Trafford for a fee of around £40m with a medical expected shortly. It’s the type of signing, a World Cup and Champions League winner, which can take the Red Devils to the next level.
Manchester United have been short of a world class centre back partner for Harry Maguire and Varane could be the man. Where Maguire lacks pace the Frenchman is genuinely quick and as a strong leader with excellent ball skills he will be a fine addition.
Alongside Maguire, left back Luke Shaw had an impressive Euro 2020 and they too will be key men in a solid rearguard. 23 year old right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka had bags of potential and now he needs to deliver to help United become genuine title contenders.
English core can connect with the fans
The pre-season Premier League 2021 betting odds, here at SBOTOP, have pitched the Red Devils as fourth favourites for the 2021/22 league title, behind Chelsea and Liverpool in the chase to overcome favourites Manchester City. But OGS hopes to restore Manchester United into a team as strong as the one he starred in during the 1990s. The core of that side was the ‘Class of 92’, a group of young English players, including David Beckham, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, who all became club legends, and Solskjaer has recruited to bring a current crop of English stars together in attack. The £73m signing of winger Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund has excited the boss who said: “Jadon is the right one for us. He’s a forward with creativity, flair, individual skills and he’s got years ahead of him. We’ve got Marcus (Rashford) and Mason (Greenwood), an English core there and we’ve got the added experience of (Edinson) Cavani so I think the forward line is looking really good.”
Move Pogba on
While Solskjaer is on the verge of making his second high profile addition of the window, in Varane, there is still work to be done and the problem of Paul Pogba to resolve. It seems the enigmatic Frenchman’s negotiating team is yet to strike a deal to keep him at Old Trafford. And that particular issue could well determine whether or not the club can sign any more players. If this is the end of Manchester United’s business then I fear the team’s Premier League 2021 results won’t be enough to challenge Manchester City, who are likely to amass more points than their 2020/21 total.
So it makes sense to me for the club to move on a player who has blown hot and cold, performed at a consistently higher level for club than country, and publicly shared his desire to move on. The way France plays may well suit the midfielder more than Manchester United’s style and, if that’s the case, a move will be the best option for both player and club. Paris Saint-Germain are the interested party and if the French giants do commit then the Red Devils could pursue one or more of their other targets, Rennes’ Eduardo Camavinga or Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez; but they need to move smartly with other parties in the hunt.
If Pogba does move on and Manchester United have a successful campaign, it wouldn’t be the first time the departure of a galactico has improved the balance of a team.
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