Manchester United’s goal achieved but additions needed for next step

Manchester United’s 14-game unbeaten run to end the Premier League season, culminating in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Leicester City, pushed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side into the Champions League spots, but now the club faces a crucial transfer window.

The Norwegian delivered on United’s main goal for this season – it was never expected to challenge Liverpool or Manchester City for the title – but being back in Europe’s elite competition is just part of the journey back to the top.

“That’s another stepping stone. You have to go and get fitter and stronger and more robust. That’s another part of the Champions League – the financial gain – but that’s not in my head. The club knows what we need and we’re going to try and pursue it,” he said.

Solskjaer needs to strengthen his squad in two key ways.

United must add more quality to its strongest 11 to bring the club closer to the level of England’s top two, but it also needs greater strength in depth to cope with the additional demands of playing in the Champions League while competing domestically.

United has made progress this year in improving its first-choice lineup with pre-season acquisitions of defenders Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka vastly improving the back four.

But the arrival of Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes in late January is rightly credited with transforming the season.

When the Red Devils trudged off the field after a 2-0 home defeat by Burnley on Jan. 22, they were six points behind Chelsea and 14 adrift of Leicester City, but finished above both clubs.

Fernandes made his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 1 and it is no coincidence that the team has not lost in the league with his presence in midfield.

Solskjaer can be proud that he has also strengthened the starting lineup by improving Anthony Martial’s contribution in the center-forward role and introducing and developing talented 18-yearold forward Mason Greenwood.

French World Cup winner Paul Pogba’s return to fitness after the novel coronavirus lockdown has also contributed to United achieving its goal and Nemanja Matic, who looked set to leave a year ago, has been resurrected as a key holding midfielder.

But United lacks real competition for places in too many roles and the backup fringes of the squad do not provide the quality of options that Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola can rely on.

All of which adds up to a real challenge for club executive Ed Woodward and his team handling transfer deals.

United still has the chance to add silverware this season in next month’s Europa League but regardless of the outcome, fans will expect to see a number of new faces by the time the Premier League resumes in September.

Vardy captures ‘Golden Boot’

Meanwhile, Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy won the Premier League’s Golden Boot award for the top scorer after finishing the season with 23 goals.

Vardy was unable to score in Leicester’s 2-0 final day loss to Manchester United on Sunday – a result which meant the Foxes missed out on a Champions League place and had to settle for fifth place and the Europa League next season.

The 33-year-old is the oldest player to win the award and the first from Leicester City and popped Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Southampton’s Danny Ings, who finished on 22 goals each.

Manchester City’s Brazilian ’keeper Ederson won the Golden Glove award, moving above Burnley’s Nick Pope after collecting his 16th clean sheet of the season in the season in a 5-0 win against Norwich. (Reuters) *Liverpool 38 32 Man City 38 26 Man United 38 18 Chelsea 38 20 Leicester City 38 18 Tottenham 38 16 Wolverhampton 38 15 Arsenal 38 14 Sheffield United 38 14 Burnley 38 15 Southampton 38 15 Everton 38 13 Newcastle United 38 11 Crystal Palace 38 11 Brighton & Hove 38 9 West Ham United 38 10 Aston Villa 38 9 Bournemouth 38 9 Watford 38 8 Norwich City 38 5 3 3 12 6 8 11 14 14 12 9 7 10 11 10 14 9 8 7 10 6 3 9 8 12 12 11 9 10 12 14 16 15 16 17 15 19 21 22 20 27 85 102 66 69 67 61 51 56 39 43 51 44 38 31 39 49 41 40 36 26 33 99 35 81 36 66 54 66 41 62 47 59 40 59 48 56 39 54 50 54 60 52 56 49 58 44 50 43 54 41 62 39 67 35 65 34 64 34 75 21

1-4 – Champions League; 5 – Europa League; 6-7 – Europa League, depending on domestic cup; 18-20 – Relegation.