Manchester United’s goal every season is the same. Winning silverware is the bare minimum for one of the world’s biggest clubs.
They did that last term, beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final, but their league form stuttered, as they came home in sixth.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe put his faith in Erik ten Hag over the summer and handed him a one-year extension and he has also backed him in the transfer market.
The Red Devils have spent nearly £100million on Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee alone, with signs pointing to more additions by the time the window shuts.
But is it enough to bridge the gap to their noisy neighbours at the summit?
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Working the market
Man Utd have been busy this summer.
On top of bringing Yoro and Zirkzee to the club, they have been working hard to ship some unwanted deadwood.
Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Donny van de Beek have all departed, saving a fortune on wages.
New tunnel ✔️
New season 🔜#MUFC pic.twitter.com/YBhOFHL0Zh— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 9, 2024
There is also interest from Paris Saint-Germain in Jadon Sancho, which would ease any other financial pressures the club may have.
But do the incoming duo have the required quality to challenge for major honours?
Well, Yoro is still a very much unknown entity. The 18-year-old signed from Lille after an impressive campaign, but he still looks raw and will need to be moulded by some experienced heads at Old Trafford.
Zirkzee was the Netherlands’ third-choice striker at Euro 2024 but had a storming season in Serie A with Bologna.
The 23-year-old scored 12 goals and recorded seven assists in 37 appearances across all competitions and led his team to a fifth-placed finish.
They are not two big names that Man Utd fans are so used to seeing, but this change in strategy may work in their favour.
There is no guarantee that the club will shoot to the top, but it is clear that Ten Hag’s youthful recruitment policy reflects a new approach to things.
Problems still exist
There may be fresh faces on the books, but there are still a lot of issues at Man Utd.
Sancho has returned after a public bust-up with his head coach last season and there are other returning concerns.
Luke Shaw has reportedly picked up another injury ahead of the new season, while Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund have also been suffering during the team’s tour of the USA.
Last term, the Red Devils went for long periods without their left-back, as well as World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez.
With him, they have looked a much stronger team, but can they keep him fit?
It may simply have been a case of bad luck, but it was proven pretty quickly that one or two absences from the Man Utd team can have a serious impact on their performance.
Ten Hag relies on possession-based football, but with the likes of Harry Maguire or Jonny Evans filling in at the back, it is not as easy.
Some of our favourite #MUTOUR24 snaps, all #ShotOnSnapdragon 😮💨
🤳 @Snapdragon #MUFC || #UnitedBySnapdragon pic.twitter.com/iAUwg6dKqf
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 8, 2024
Time for the youngsters?
One big difference in the North West this season is that United’s young crop finally look ready.
In pre-season, Amad Diallo has caught the eye alongside Harry Amass and Toby Collyer.
There have been others, but the three mentioned above have looked the best fit in Ten Hag’s system and they have also caught a former icon’s eye.
Andy Cole has had his say on Amass and Collyer in particular and believes they could be ready to feature in the top flight.
Speaking to Betfred Insights, he said: “You’ve got to be ready, it’s that simple.
“Injuries at Manchester United have picked up, but whether the club wants to bring in a new full-back is another question. I think what he has done in pre-season has been very, very positive, so for me personally, looking at the tour and where the players are at, it was a good pre-season with lots of positives.
“Of course the injuries were negative but overall, I think everyone will be very happy with how the tour went.
“Pre-season is all about getting everyone fit to a certain extent, but more importantly, you’re looking at performances and if you look at the performances in general, they were really good.
“We will have to wait and see who remains with the first-team squad, but I think everyone is going into this new season in good form”
Pushed to new limits
Three of United’s old guard have not really been mentioned in the build-up to the new season.
But it is likely all three will have a role to play at the club going forward.
Marcus Rashford had a serious dip in form in 2023-24, scoring seven goals compared to 17 the season before.
At 26, he still has a lot more to give and as a local lad, the fans want nothing more than to see him succeed.
There is increasing competition for every place in the squad, so if Rashford wants to step back into the spotlight and more importantly, the England squad, he will have to push himself harder than ever.
The same can be said for Harry Maguire. Yoro’s arrival suggests the 31-year-old is certainly not a primary choice for Ten Hag anymore, but he can still be of value.
As an experienced head, Maguire will lead the dressing room in the last year of his contract and unless a miracle happens, he will finish his United career by guiding in a new generation.
Feeling good 😁#MUFC pic.twitter.com/60nZWCNjDj
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 8, 2024
Casemiro has mixed popularity inside the Theatre of Dreams.
Many fans think he is past his best, but there are still moments of magic.
Depending on whether the club bring in a new midfielder, the former Real Madrid man may have to ensure he is still physically at his best at 32.
Prediction
Realistically, it would be a massive shock if Manchester United challenged for the title this season.
Ten Hag himself admitted they are not at that level but there is no reason why they cannot improve on last season.
Aside from the Premier League, they have three other pieces of silverware to chase, including the Europa League.
If they can get their hands on one of them, fans will be relatively happy, providing they also secure a spot in the top four.
