Manchester United finished sixth last season but will be part of Europe’s elite in the Uefa Champions League by virtue of their Uefa Europa League triumph against Ajax Amsterdam back in May.

It wasn’t the best of seasons by United’s standards – despite adding the League Cup to their trophy haul, but strong performances from summer recruits in the now departed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Eric Bailly alongside regulars like Ander Herrera, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick and David De Gea, made the campaign worthwhile.

Can they challenge for the Premier League title they last won in 2013 when Sir Alex Ferguson drew the curtain on an illustrious 27-year stint at Old Trafford?

The Red Devils are the undisputed kings of English football both on and off the pitch but they have been wobbling since Fergie’s retirement despite spending astronomical amounts on players.

Things are however appearing to turn around under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho. The Special One is no stranger to English football after two trophy laden spells with Chelsea. On the surface he looks to have steadied the ship and after signing Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic for a combined £155 million this summer, his sights should be set on the league title.

The United hierarchy has provided the Portuguese tactician with all he’s asked for and he has to ensure the investments reap the required rewards.

The Red Devils – a team with a proud history of a record 20 league titles, have spent more than £300 million in the last two summers transfer windows but have failed to finish within the top two and can’t allow that to happen this time around.

Chelsea will be looking to retain the Premier League title they won for only the sixth time in their history but it’s yet to be seen if the Blues have won the striker battle with the £70 million purchase of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid or if United dodged a bullet on that front with Lukaku’s £75 million transfer form Everton.

What matters most is that the men in red need to up their game as they can’t afford  to lose crucial points as they did last term – acquiring more draws than victories, which ended up derailing what should have been an extraordinary season.

Will the Red Devils be genuine title contenders this time around? Let’s have your thoughts via the comment box.

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