PL 16/17 Predictions Series: Manchester United

My new series looks at the participants of the latest Premier League season. For previous posts, see below:

Arsenal, Bournemouth, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Everton, Hull City, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City

Last season
Despite an FA Cup sitting in the cabinet at Old Trafford, as well as coming razor close to pipping their local rivals to the final Champions League spot, the season has to be considered a disappointment for Manchester United. Over the last two years under the stewardship of Louis van Gaal, the club has produced less and less exciting football, with the chant 'attack, attack, attack' a regular occurrence at home games.

A fifth place finish is also by no means a successful investment of more than £200m, especially when you consider the progression of both Leicester City and Tottenham over the same period with comparatively less money.

Backroom setup
As a result, the Manchester United board felt that van Gaal did not represent the best way forward, relieving him of his duties just days after the FA Cup victory. In his place comes self-proclaimed 'Special One' Jose Mourinho, who has the winning mentality and potential to significantly change the fortunes of the club, as well as attract the attention of some of the largest names in the sport.

However, his managerial style does also draw criticism, with Mourinho's treatment of some of the older players already drawing heat from the footballing world. Bastian Schweinsteiger has already felt the wrath of the Special One, being forced to train with the reserves and kept separate from the first-team squad.

Pre-season
Mourinho has certainly had a topsy-turvy start to his Manchester United career, again exemplified by results in his pre-season matches. Beginning with a comfortable 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic, United were dismantled in their first International Champions Cup game against Borussia Dortmund. Despite a debut goal for ex-Dortmund player Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Red Devils were thoroughly outclassed, losing 4-1. While they responded with an emphatic 5-2 win over Galatasaray in their next match, including a Zlatan Ibrahimovic bicycle kick, their momentum was checked slightly by both a cancellation of their derby match with Manchester City, as well as a boring 0-0 draw in their first game at Old Trafford under Mourinho, Wayne Rooney's testimonial against Everton.

The most indicative match of their pre-season was the Community Shield match against last season's champions Leicester, which saw the Red Devils produce a dominant performance. While a 2-1 victory, especially one claimed with a late goal, would suggest that the game was close, it was certainly true that United had it well under control throughout the 90.

Squad and signings
Without doubt, Manchester United have made the largest noise in the transfer market, making a number of high profile, and expensive, signings. With the news that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be making the move from PSG on a free, United added a guaranteed 20-goals a season striker, something severely lacking from the last two years.

In addition, the club has added the £27m creative midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Dortmund, as well as the highly rated youngster Eric Bailly for £30m from Villarreal. However, the largest signing was saved for last, with the Red Devils blitzing the world record transfer fee for Paul Pogba, with figures in excess of £100m expected following performance bonuses and add ons. This may well complete the squad and put them firmly in the driving seat for the opening of the Premier League season, though discussions are apparently ongoing around the futures of Juan Mata, Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj.

Tactics
As with many Jose Mourinho teams, the use of the target man as a striker plays a key role. Watch out for Zlatan Ibrahimovic playing the Didier Drogba role, allowing the likes of Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial time to damage their opponents, as well as the guile of Mkhitaryan and Pogba to unlock stubborn defences.

Predictions

They enter this season the undisputed favourites for their 21st title. With no Champions League commitments, they can place the vast majority of their focus on reclaiming their Premier League crown, and the depth of their squad should enable them to do exactly that. The only thing that can prevent them from doing this is either severe injury problems, or more crazed decisions by their new manager.

Final position: 1st

Summer Transfer Window Series: 2015 Window Top 10 Big Money Moves

And so, the summer chaos is over for another year. I'm not talking about the departure lounge of Manchester Airport, it is of course the transfer window. As part of my latest series, I wanted to review some of the biggest and best Premier League transactions this year, starting with the top 10 huge money moves.

It's been a record summer, with spending rising four per cent to £870m. As a result, we've got a strong top 10, with all of the deals highlighted in excess of £20m. With the new Sky TV deal, valued at a staggering £5bn, set to come into play next year, clubs have realised that they have money to play with, and as a result, are more willing to splash out the big bucks.

10. Pedro Rodriguez - Barcelona to Chelsea (£21m)
We kick off with Chelsea's big-name summer signing. Having struggled through their opening couple of games, claiming just one point, Jose Mourinho felt the time was right to make his move. Despite considerable reported interest from Manchester United, Chelsea met the buyout clause of Barcelona's Pedro, who had found himself less of a fixture at the Catalan club since the purchases of Neymar and Luis Suarez.

Cue merciless chants taunting United on the terraces, and rapid response from Louis van Gaal, claiming they never really wanted him - funny that! Meanwhile, the Spaniard, who has already won two Champions League titles and countless league crowns, has hit the ground running, with one goal and two assists in his first two games.

9. Heung-Min Son - Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham Hotspur (£22m)
The first of our 'panic buys' to enter the list. Not unlike Chelsea, Spurs have had a rocky start to the new season, particularly struggling for goals. With Harry Kane having that typical 'second season syndrome', Tottenham swooped for Son, paying over the odds for a player that, while talented, has often struggled to be prolific. It remains to be seen whether this plays out well, but his debut will be eagerly anticipated by Spurs fans - but the last striker to cost in excess of £20m didn't really work out - Roberto Soldado.

8. Morgan Schneiderlin - Southampton to Manchester United (£24m)
Poor old Southampton. Their strong young side of a couple of years ago has been decimated, with Liverpool and Manchester United particularly guilty of stealing their players. This summer, it was the turn of Morgan Schneiderlin to depart, having come close to joining Spurs last year. At £24m, he seems extremely expensive, and he has hardly had the most auspicious start, frequently giving the ball away in the games at home to Tottenham and Newcastle. Nevertheless, it remains clear that Louis van Gaal considers him a ready-made replacement for the ageing Michael Carrick, and I expect to see the Dutchman continue to give him a chance to repay the outlay.

7. Nicolas Otamendi - Valencia to Manchester City (£28m upfront, will rise to £32m)
Another of Manchester United's failed transfer targets, and the first of Manchester City's big-money signings. Who would have thought that £28m would represent one of the club's cheaper purchases? Though a touch surprising, given the form of both Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala, Nicolas Otamendi adds further competition and strength in depth for City's European tilt, particularly given the typically ridiculous group the club has been given again.

It does have to be said, however, that one of the key reasons for the move to City is the transfer of Alvaro Negredo the other way last year. Expected cost in the region of £22m, Valencia have simply not got the money, so a part exchange was almost inevitable to come good on the money.

6. Roberto Firmino - Hoffenheim to Liverpool (£29m)
Liverpool have also been busy in the transfer window, financing the signing of Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino in June. The former Hoffenheim man has recently broken into the Brazil national team, popping up with some useful goals in recent friendlies, and seems to have the physical stature to cope with the rough and tumble of the Premier League. As with many of this year's moves, he looks overpriced by my estimation, and has failed to stamp his authority on the team in the opening weeks, but I do believe he adds something different to the Liverpool squad.

5. Memphis Depay - PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United (£31m)
The move finalised earlier than any other, Memphis Depay has had a considerable amount of time to gel with his new teammates, and you have to say it has worked. Of all of the United players so far this season, he has looked the most lively, and demonstrated his quality with his two-goal appearance at home to Club Brugge in the Champions League. Though he is often greedy and at times petulant, he is still young, and should learn quickly how to operate at a club the size of United. As a team, United has yet to hit top gear in the league, and you can be sure that Depay will be at the centre of activity once they do.

4. Christian Benteke - Aston Villa to Liverpool (£32.5m)
Funded by another big-money transfer (which if you don't already know about, I'll get to later, but more importantly, where have you been?!) Liverpool hit the buy-out clause in Christian Benteke's contract to secure his services. A proven goalscorer, Benteke has outperformed a relatively poor Aston Villa side over the last couple of years, and his suitors included a host of Europe's top teams. Though his opening few games for the Reds have been underwhelming, with one goal a relatively poor return at this stage, I am confident he will deliver, but it will be interesting to see how the Belgian deals with the enormous pressure that comes with the status of the club and the price tag over his head in the coming months.

3. Anthony Martial - AS Monaco to Manchester United (£36.6m - could rise to £58m)
Quite frankly, ridiculous. So left-field, they've disappeared off the pitch and out the stadium. I think you get my point. The very fact that Wayne Rooney had to ask who he was demonstrates the fact that this is not a £36.6m man, and his record is hardly justification either. Just eight goals in 31 Ligue 1 appearances last season does not strike of a prolific goalscorer, and with Rooney well and truly out of form, a goalscorer is exactly what United need. The fact that the deal was completed on deadline day reeks of a panic buy from Louis van Gaal following their defeat by Swansea, and with clauses including 25 international appearances and 25 goals over the next four seasons likely to cost the club another £15m, this could be an extremely expensive failure.

2. Raheem Sterling - Liverpool to Manchester City (£49m)
Arguably the most obvious move of the summer (although I would have put the sale of David de Gea to Real Madrid in this category!). Though a silly price, City had identified the player they required to progress their title tilt, and made their move early. With Sterling using every tactic in the book (and a few perhaps not in there!) to get his move, Liverpool handled the situation admirably, maintaining composure and ensuring they got the best deal for the current European Golden Boy. They certainly made City pay through the nose, but given the way the club has started this year, a lot of which is the injection of pace and width that Sterling provides, it does seem like a deal that may pay off for the Blues.

1. Kevin De Bruyne - VfL Wolfsburg to Manchester City (£54m)
And if City's start wasn't frightening enough for their rivals, they've brought in the man who created the most chances in any of Europe's top leagues last year. Though again for ridiculous money, Kevin de Bruyne is another exciting young prospect with proven pedigree, and will add to an already embarrassing forward line containing Silva, Aguero and Sterling. The Belgian has flourished in the Bundesliga, scoring 17 goals and assisting 29 more last season, and I have no doubt that he will do well in the Premier League. He's going to have to though, particularly for the eye-watering sum that was paid for him.