- Paul Merson doubts Man Utd title credentials
- Feels recruitment is vital
- Reds haven’t won the Premier League since 2013
Paul Merson has ruled out Manchester United challenging for the title next season and suggested they will be scrapping it out for Champions League qualification. The Red Devils have secured a top-five finish with two games to spare this season.
United face Nottingham Forest on Sunday in what will be their last game at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick is set to be confirmed as permanent head coach and an announcement could come before the match.
Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in January and has earned the full-time role thanks to impressive results and delivering Champions League football. He has overseen 10 wins and two defeats in 15 games.
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“Not even an outside chance” – Merson on Man Utd
There is excitement around the club ahead of Carrick’s permanent appointment but the question is what the aim will be come next season. He will be judged on implementing his brand of football having ultimately focused on improving his team’s form during the second half of this campaign.
United co-owners have a long-term plan to drive the Reds back to the top of English football. They are targeting winning the Premier League title by 2028.
That aligns with Merson’s verdict on the club’s expectations for next season. The Arsenal icon gave a somewhat unfavourable analysis of what lies ahead while writing for Sportskeeda:
“I don’t think Manchester United even have an outside chance of pushing for the Premier League title next season. They will do well to qualify for the Champions League again and that’s about it. The challenge of playing in midweek could hurt them if they don’t recruit well enough.”
Merson feels Carrick “deserves” the permanent job but suggests Luis Enrique could be available if Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal in the Champions League final. The noise coming out of France is that the Spaniard intends to sign a new contract with the Parisians.
Is Merson Right?
United do need to recruit well this summer and the focus should be on overhauling the midfield. Casemiro is departing and Manuel Ugarte is expected to be sold.
Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson have been linked. They could prove difficult to bring to Old Trafford for different reasons.
West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Atalanta’s Ederson are also under consideration. Three new midfielders should be the aim for INEOS.
There’s also a need to improve the squad’s depth, and handing Luke Shaw competition in the form of Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly would be a superb solution at left-back. Benjamin Sesko probably needs a new backup striker amid Joshua Zirkzee’s struggles.
As for the Reds’ title aspirations, it’s clear that INEOS have planned a lengthy rebuild to put together a squad capable of competing for major honours. The next step is to continue moving closer to returning to the top of English football.
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