Manchester United's defence is now good enough to challenge for the Premier League title, insists former player Gary Pallister, as Aaron Wan-Bissaka is singled out for praise.
The Reds splashed out on centre-back Raphael Varane from Real Madrid this summer to bolster their back line as they look to win their first Premier League title since 2013 and first trophy since 2017. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has finally found himself a solid defensive lineup that essentially picks itself after years of experimenting.
But after starting the season with two wins and a draw, plus a first clean sheet in ten games, United have now been tipped to challenge at the top thanks in part to Varane's arrival.
Pallister was speaking exclusively to Manchester Evening News, via FreeSuperTips, and was asked if he believes United can win the title.
"If Varane slots in then certainly," he said.
"We've all seen Harry Maguire and at the Euros where we missed him in the first couple of games.
"I think he's a real leader, maybe not the mould like Keane was but he's a talker on the pitch and I think he's getting stronger. He brings the ball out well from the back which is something you need when you have a lot of possession.
"Ole has brought in a lot of quality in general, when you look at the squad and the individual players in each position. It's a team that Manchester United fans recognise now, it's a team that will excite and score goals. It's got pace and threats all over the pitch and Ole needs to hone it all together.
"We started absolutely fantastic against Leeds and the next two performances didn't hit those heights. It's a worry if that continues and we throw away silly points like we did last season.
"But since Sir Alex Ferguson left, this is something like a Manchester United team that fans expect on the pitch. It's got all the pieces; it just needs to tick together."
United were linked with a right-back all summer, with Kieran Trippier of interest only for a deal to never to materialise, to provide attacking competition for Wan-Bissaka but Pallister believes the 23-year-old has all the attributes to improve going forward.
"Everyone talks about Wan-Bissaka and what he doesn't give you, but what he does give the team is terrific defending qualities. He never gets beat one on one, but everyone concentrates on what he does in the final attacking third.
"He has all the attributes to be an attacking fullback, he's got stuff to work on and you can see that he wants to improve. When you play in a back four at centre-back you want to be next to someone that can defend and Wan-Bissaka can certainly do that."
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