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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
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Nathan Bliss

Manchester United's 2019/20 season predicted if no further signings arrive before transfer deadline

As the summer transfer window draws to a close, with just under 24 hours left to go, Manchester United's business looks to be done.

Having brought in Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire this summer, United also wanted to sign a creative midfielder, but that looks unlikely at this stage.

So, where will United finish in the Premier League this season, if they don't sign anyone else?

And, what impact will Maguire, Wan-Bissaka and James have at United in their first seasons?

We used Football Manager 2019 to try and predict next season.

Manchester United 2019/20 season if no further signings are made

To set up the simulation, updated all the latest transfers, manager changes, promotions and relegations, to make it as realistic as possible, including the likes of Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to United.

We then gave United a transfer embargo so that they couldn't make any further signings this summer, then simulated the 2019/20 season to see how it would impact United's league position and season overall.

Would United improve on last year?

Here's what happened....

Get all the latest FIFA, Football Manager and other gaming news here.

Manchester United's team performance in 2019/20 

Goals conceded

(Football Manager 2019)

With Wan-Bissaka and Maguire in the side, only Liverpool conceded less than United in 2019/20, as they improved considerably at the back.

Solskjaer's side conceded just 32 goals in 38 games, 22 less than in 2018/19.

Goals scored

(Football Manager 2019)

In terms of goals scored, only Liverpool and Man City scored more than United, but Solksjaer's side scoring a similar amount to last year, 64 goals as opposed to 65 last season.

Manchester United's best XI in 2019/20

(Football Manager 2019)

This is how the best performing United XI looked in 2019/20, with Rashford, Sanchez and Mata as the front three.

Pogba, Lingard and Matic formed a great partnership in midfield, as did Maguire and Lindelof in defence.

For Daniel James, he only made a few senior appearances, largely coming from the bench, as he spent the first season with the under-23's.

Manchester United's top scorers in 2019/20

Rashford had a great goal scoring season in 2019/20, finding the net 21 times in 47 appearances in all competitions.

(Football Manager 2019)

Interestingly, Pogba was the second-highest goal scorer from midfield, with 19.

 

Manchester United's Premier League performance in 2019/20

Manchester United's 2018/19 league position: 6th

Manchester United's 2019/20 league position: 3rd

(Football Manager 2019)

Manchester United's 2018/19 league points: 66

Manchester United's 2019/20 league points: 74

United improved significantly in 2019/20 with Maguire and Wan-Bissaka in the first XI, finishing third in the league and earning eight more points than the previous campaign.

They also reached the semi-final of the Europa League, eventually being knocked out on away goals by Valencia.

(Football Manager 2019)

But, United did win some silverware, as the Red Devils won the Carabao Cup, beating Burnley in the final.

(Football Manager 2019)

Football Manager 2019 suggests that if United don't manage to sign anyone else between now and Thursday's deadline, they are still in prime position to get back into the Champions League places.

   
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