It's been a productive summer window for Manchester United, so far, as they have brought in a world class centre-back in Raphael Varane along with a generational talent in Jadon Sancho, who will be the first quality player the side have had on the right-wing since the days of Antonio Valencia.
Although the Red Devils have got their business done early and ahead of the beginning of the season, the Premier League title race is predicted to be the most intense and exciting one for quite some time, as both Chelsea and Manchester City have been active in the market whilst Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool are looking to bounce back and become title challengers once again this term.
Domestic cup success as well as a title charge is now expected of Manchester United, at the least; but what can we expect from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side as a whole during the 2021/22 season?
1. Slow start to the season
Given that Sancho and Varane have not had enough time to train with their team-mates as well as Marcus Rashford being on the sidelines for the next 12 weeks, a slow start to the season is due to be expected from Solskjaer's men. The fact that the side had only four fixtures played during the pre-season, with three of them being played by the youngsters and not by the first XI is a huge concern.
With Leeds United being the side's first fixture of the season, a team that are known for their incredible fitness levels and play football at 100 miles per hour, the Red Devils cannot afford to be lethargic on and off the ball. Also, with a two-week international break taking place after the first three games, it leaves the squad with little time to adapt to the new signings and a new system.
Harry Maguire in action against Everton
2. Edinson Cavani will be the side's top goal scorer in the league
The last time a Manchester United player scored 20 goals in a Premier League season was eight years ago, during their last title winning campaign in 2013/14, where Robin van Persie scored 26 goals in 38 Premier League appearances. His contributions individually helped the team to the title.
Since then, the Red Devils have lacked a 20 goal a season attacker, to help the side win games through small moments and lead the team to become league favourites. Last season, majority of the league goals came through Bruno Fernandes (18), Marcus Rashford (11), Edinson Cavani (10) and Mason Greenwood (7), where the signs were quite clear that a prolific goal-scorer was missing.
However, this season, Cavani will be looking to show himself as United's number nine and achieve 20 Premier League goals, as the team have a consistent creator in Jadon Sancho and are expected to be playing in a more attacking formation. Not only that, but the Uruguayan forward scored 10 league goals last season in only 1372 minutes of football. With more game time along with him being settled into England effectively, it would not be a surprise to see him score week in and out.
Cavani committed to one more season at Old Trafford
3. Manchester United to concede less than 35 league goals
Manchester United conceded 44 goals in the previous campaign, where several goals were leaked due to individual mistakes and a lack of basic defending from set-pieces. On top of that, with David de Gea and Victor Lindelof being regarded as the weak links in the backline along with the absence of a natural holding midfielder in the team, an amount of 40 goals+ being conceded was inevitable.
The positive note for this time around, is that the arrival of Varane will help the side massively, allowing the team to play higher up the pitch due to his commanding presence and his ability to defend in one-on-one situations. And with Dean Henderson reportedly being seen as United's number one goalkeeper from this season, the side should not be expected to concede cheap goals.
If Solskjaer and his side can aim to concede fewer than 35 league goals, it would significantly help the team to push for a title challenge, as the attacking side of the game is not expected to be an issue.
Varane has been signed to bolster United's defence
4. Positive progress in the Champions League competition
The main aim for the Red Devils is to get back to winning ways within the Premier League, a title they are yet to convincingly challenge for since the Sir Alex Ferguson era. On the other hand, with the capabilities of the manager as well as the depth and quality of the squad, the team would thrive within a short competition, the Champions League, rather than over a full 38-game league schedule.
With the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Sancho and Paul Pogba to depend on, United have more than enough players to rely on for individual brilliance and moments, which is all it takes to get through the group stages of the Champions League and advance forward. Last season, the side failed to qualify for the knockout stages, though, the manager and the squad would have learnt their lesson well from previous experience, as they failed to show enough respect to the smaller teams.
Although the Champions League draws are yet to place, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men should not have any major problems with overcoming their opposition and should be more than confident in progressing into the knockout stages, where their counter-attacking threat will become very useful.
