Solskjaer now has Reds heading in the right direction
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer doesn’t need me or anyone else to remind him that the time has come for United to start competing at the very top of world football once again.
The signs are looking very good indeed, with the squad perfectly capable of competing with that lot from across town, champions Liverpool and big-spending Chelsea.
Marcus Rashford – one of my favourite players of the modern era – and Anthony Martial, along with teenage sensation Mason Greenwood and the speedy Dan James, will need to have their shooting boots on if we are to challenge for the title.
United are 15/2 at Betfred to score the most Premier League goals next season – and once the sabre rattling is over and we have Jadon Sancho on board, we will be in an even better position when it comes to the business of getting the ball in the back of the onion bag.
Solskjaer has been superb in the transfer market so far, and it will be interesting to see how new signing Donny van de Beek fits into our midfield that is already strong with Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba, who are both world-class playmakers.
With Dean Henderson back from loan with Sheffield United and looking to challenge David de Gea for the gloves, the defence will be stronger – although like most Reds I do think we need a couple of new faces in that back line.
United are 18/1 at Betfred to win the title this season, which is good value in my book for City and Liverpool both showed towards the end of last season that they can be beaten.
It doesn’t bother me in the slightest that Jack Grealish is staying at Aston Villa despite overtures from Solskjaer – and I
have never, ever wanted United to sign injury-prone Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.
If United are to spend big, they must go for the best available… and that is Sancho, who would fit perfectly into Ole’s high pace counter-attacking side.
First up for the Reds it’s Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace at Old Trafford tomorrow - and a return to Manchester for former United forward Wilfried Zaha.
I can only see us winning convincingly, so I’m predicting a 3-0 victory – which is 15/2 at Betfred.
Finally, all the praise in the world to Marcus Rashford who has done so much work off the pitch recently in battling child food poverty.
And it’s no wonder he’s 7/2 thirdfavourite at Betfred to be the next BBC Sports Personality of the Year.