MANCHESTER United kick-off their new season this Sunday against Chelsea and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has got some big decisions to make for who gets into his first starting XI of the season.

Who will be in that team? I want to run through who I’d give the nod and it includes a couple of new signings United really need if we’re going to compete for the top 3/4 spots this season instead of settling for a fifth and sixth tussle again. 

David De Gea: Many of us thought he would be leaving this summer, so to still have him here is huge and although it’s a cliché, he will feel like a new signing. With a much better defence in front of him, he won’t be relied on us much but when we need him he’ll be back to his best I’m sure of it. 

Aaron Wan-Bissaka: What a signing he’ll be. Alright, it’s only pre-season but he looks impenetrable, he’s like titanium – nothing gets past him. I didn’t expect him to improve so quickly going forward either but the signs are great. Our right-back position is finally sorted. 

Victor Lindelof: There’ll be no Chris Smalling, Phil Jones or Marcos Rojo in this team when Lindelof and Maguire are fit. Thank god for that. With Harry Maguire alongside him, I think Lindelof is going to get even better than he was last year, and the pair will complement each other very well. I’m excited to see how that partnership develops.

Harry Maguire: Solskjaer got his man and United got their leader. He’ll bring a physical dominance at both ends of the pitch and after years of not having one, Maguire leading by example will be a transformative moment for our defence, which has been average for the best part of a decade. 

Luke Shaw: Some aren’t made up on him but I’m a big fan. He’s deceptively quick and good in defence. Yes, he needs to improve going forward but the whole team does, so you can’t expose our left-back for that problem.

The real issue is in midfield for United. We’re like a polo mint, nice around the outside but nothing in the middle. If that doesn’t get sorted, United will struggle all season.

I’d go for a 4-2-3-1 formation overall and have my midfield set up like this for Chelsea.

Paul Pogba: He might be unsettled but he’s essential. By far and away our best midfielder and United need him to focus on his game because if he’s staying, he needs to improve and lead by example in the middle. 

Scott McTominay: He’s had an excellent pre-season and has already improved on last year. With Nemanja Matic massively on the decline, he needs to step away from United’s starting XI and this season could be a proper breakthrough for Scott if he can continue improving. 

Bruno Fernandes last season

⚽️ 32 goals
️ 18 assists

Pogba + Matic + Fred + McTominay + Herrera

⚽️ 23 goals
️ 15 assists#MUFC pic.twitter.com/U4eWwrpfCI

— Unibet (@unibet) July 30, 2019

Bruno Fernandes: This saga has lasted all summer but he’s exactly what we need. Brilliant from set pieces with a goal threat to match, he’d be the perfect signing in the No.10 role in front of Pogba and McTominay. I find it confusing how United won’t invest in the most important part of the pitch, the midfield engine room, and I’d certainly bring Fernandes in for that role. 

For the front three, I want it to interchangeable and in a dream situation we’d start with these against Chelsea.

Paulo Dybala: If the deal isn’t completely dead, then I’d like Dybala. It’s more of a traditional galactico signing and some fans have concerns over his desire to play for United or chase the money. They are fair concerns but if a player isn’t wanted by their club, they should be motivated to move elsewhere and prove that club wrong. He could kick on and rejuvenate himself at United.

New for @unibet

Getting Paulo Dybala would be great news for #MUFC & is, at least in part, down to the massive investment #Juventus made in Cristiano Ronaldo https://t.co/DZUxwL3IYW

— Adam Digby (@Adz77) July 31, 2019

Anthony Martial: He looks sharper in pre-season and United’s more fluid attacking style will suit his movement a lot more but like so many others, he needs to have an improved season. 

Marcus Rashford: Solskjaer needs a new No.9 now that Romelu Lukaku is no longer part of the plans and Rashford is the most likely candidate. He has scored a few in pre-season and knows this is his big opportunity to establish himself as United’s main man in attack. Alongside Martial and Dybala, it would give United the best-looking attack on paper we’ve had for a long time. 

These last couple of signings would be the difference between Man United fighting for the Champions League or Europa League but with so little time left in the window, there’s still so much left to do.