Is Manchester United the most serious Premier League contender?

The 2023/24 Premier League season was one of those seasons in Manchester United's history that many will be desperate to forget.

The Red Devils were the laughing stock of the Premier League, as they struggled to stay consistent or mount any serious top-four bid last season. 

After finishing inside the Champions League places and reaching two domestic finals, winning one in Erik ten Hag's first full season at the club, the belief was that United would kick on in the second season. 

With the expensive additions of Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana, Man United fans were hopeful they could challenge Man City for the title.

However, what played out was a terrible season. United were shambolic in different proportions, and this previous Seatsnet article captures how bad their season was. 

The Red Devils recorded their lowest-ever finish in the Premier League and conceded their highest-ever number of goals in a season, among other terrible stats.

As far as most United fans were concerned, last season was Ten Hag's last at the club. The consensus among fans was that he needed to go for United to make progress. 

The club's new co-owners, INEOS Group, made moves to replace him, with the ruthless Jim Ratcliffe reportedly favouring and speaking to other candidates, including former Chelsea man Thomas Tuchel.

However, as has been United's case since Ten Hag became manager, just when we all thought United was buried and the Dutchman's end was nigh, they found a way to dig themselves out of the grave, wrapping up the season in style by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final. 

Yet, to most of the fans, winning the FA Cup despite playing what some supporters on the internet called 'haram football' for the majority of the season was not good enough and only masked the deep-seated problems at the club. 

United needed a change and reset, and Ten Hag was among the names expected to be taken out of the picture.

Erik Ten Hag's New Deal

However, in a strange turn of events, United quit their pursuit of Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Gareth Southgate and retained Ten Hag, even handing him a contract extension. 

It remains baffling how the club's hierarchy came to the conclusion that Erik Ten Hag was the man to lead the club back to the top, but there seems to be a genuine desire and willingness from the club's top executives to solve the issues.

From their assessment, Ten Hag was not the problem, or at least the main reason for their failures. The problem and solution lay elsewhere, and United has tried to address it so far. 

The Red Devils have been one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the current transfer window, concluding at least two big deals at the time of writing. They have also made some changes to their backroom staff and the executive level. 

But does their summer business automatically mean that United's major issues have been fixed, and they are now serious title contenders? 

In this article, we explore Man United's summer business so far and offer our perspective on how it prepares them to challenge for the title next season.

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Dan Ashworth and the new executive crew

One of United's critical decisions during the tail end of last season was hiring the highly rated Dan Ashworth.

The Englishman had done an excellent job as technical director for Premier League sides Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United. United believed that having someone like him run the club was the first step towards success.

However, Newcastle was reluctant to let him leave, and United had to wait for over three months to get their man. He officially started as Manchester United's sporting director in July. 

The Red Devils also brought the highly rated Omar Berrada from Manchester City,  with the Frenchman given the role of chief executive at Old Trafford. Berrada comes in with a lot of experience, and his insistence on the club mapping out a design for growth off the pitch is exactly why Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS Group hired him.

Jason Wilcox also joined this summer from Southampton. The Englishman joins Ashworth and Berrada at the executive level, serving as the club's technical director, successfully serving as academy director at Man City and director of football at Southampton.

Hiring the three men appears to be United's biggest coup so far, as the signs that they offer something different are evident. Though unexpected, the trio's first job was handing Erik ten Hag a contract extension, thus showing their faith in him and his coaching staff. 

Whether that decision makes them title contenders remains to be seen, but Man United look more decisive and directional under the new executives.

Joshua Zirkzee

If giving Erik Ten Hag a new deal did not show decisiveness from Manchester United's new leadership, getting Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna early in the transfer window did.

The Dutchman was one of the standout players in Serie A last season, helping Bologna qualify for the Champions League with a return of eleven goals and five assists. 

Despite being linked to several other clubs, including his former side, Bayern Munich, Zirkzee chose Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old can play as a winger or striker. His skill set compliments that of United's current forwards, and he is seen as a player who can bring out the best in Rasmus Hojlund. 

His addition has certainly upgraded United's forward line, and he may be the missing piece in a United attack that lacked bite in most games last season.

Jadon Sancho and Amad Diallo

Apart from the early acquisition of Zirkzee, another piece of summer business that United has done that has the potential to make them title contenders next season is sorting out the immediate futures of Jadon Sancho and Amad Diallo.

Both players joined United with much promise but have failed to reach their expected heights. 

Sancho's situation worsened after he publicly fell out with Ten Hag last season. As a result, he was sent out on loan, and his future at Old Trafford looked over. 

But after a successful loan spell at Borussia Dortmund and clearing the air with his manager, Sancho has been reintegrated back into the squad. 

And so, with the backing of his manager, United fans will hope to see the version of Sancho that they saw in Borussia Dortmund. The winger can be a handful on his day, and getting him back on track could be a game-changer for Man United.

Amad Diallo is another player who could make a difference for United. The Ivorian has immense talent but failed to hit the heights he enjoyed at Atalanta before his Old Trafford move. He has been in and out of the first team since Ten Hag became manager, with the Dutchman feeling reluctant to give him opportunities despite the terrible form of Antony and other United forwards.

However, Ten Hag seems to have had a rethink on Diallo and has publicly backed him to make a difference for United this season. That sort of confidence and public endorsement could help the Ivorian hit top form, which will node well for United's title bid.

Leny Yoro and an extra defender

Man United's acquisition of Leny Yoro is one of the biggest coups of the summer. 

The youngster was wanted by both Real Madrid and Liverpool, two illustrious clubs that are currently doing better than Man United. However, he chose Old Trafford, where he will walk straight into the starting XI.

Yoro adds another dimension to a United defence that shipped goals for fun last season. The Frenchman is a monster defender and, at just 18 years old, comes with a frame and build that many elite defenders do not possess.

United see him as a player who could reach the level of Virgil van Dijk and William Saliba in a few years. He certainly has the tools to reach those heights, even though not immediately.

Regardless, his signing instantly upgrades United's defence, and should the club secure the signing of either Jarrad Branthwaite or Matthijs de Ligt, they would be in a better place to compete for the title.

Trash Deadwood for Quality

United's summer business and preparation for a title push next season won't be complete if they don't let go of below-average players.

Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial have already left the club, and more must follow. There are rumours that United are open to selling Casemiro and Scott McTominay this summer. 

Though both players were important to United last season, they could hamper the club's progress, so moving them out of the way could make United better.

Christian Eriksen and Antony are two other players who may be shipped out to make room for better players who will make United better. 

One such player United are reportedly close to signing is Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguayan is an elite defensive midfielder who will slot into United's midfield alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes. Getting him certainly improves Man United and will make them one of the title contenders.

Conclusion

Manchester United has made a brilliant start to the summer transfer window, signing Zirkzee and Yoro and reintegrating Sancho and Diallo into the squad.

But even more crucial for them is the clear-cut leadership from Ashworth, Wilcox and Berrada. Although there is still so much that can be done to get the club back to the pinnacle of football, the Red Devils seem to be headed in the right direction.

With the tools they have gathered so far, United could be serious title contenders next season. But all of those tools may not help if United does not make a good start to the season.