Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League
Ruben Amorim has turned things around at Old Trafford, but there's room for improvement (Image: Getty)
Manchester United appear to be on the cusp of re-emerging as serious Premier League challengers after a decade of disappointment. After a tentative start to the season under Ruben Amorim's guidance, the Reds have recently opened their stride, with the pivotal 2-0 victory over Sunderland in October seemingly heralding the dawn of a new era in the north west.
United have managed to remain unbeaten in their last four matches, including a thrilling 2-1 triumph over arch-rivals Liverpool at Anfield. While no one is predicting that Amorim will clinch the league title this season, there's an undeniable buzz around Old Trafford and a palpable sense of renewed optimism.
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It would be premature for supporters to get too excited after just 11 games, but the prospect of United reclaiming their place in Europe by the end of the season seems increasingly plausible. Given their 15th-place finish last season, it seemed an almost insurmountable challenge when Sir Jim Ratcliffe set the goal of qualifying for European competition by the 2026/27 season - albeit slightly less ambitious than his audacious Project 150 plans.
However, with only a single point currently separating the Red Devils from a Champions League spot, the dream of returning to Europe's most prestigious football competition certainly seems more achievable.
Despite the current run of form, United still have a number of deep-rooted issues that need addressing if they are to maintain their momentum in the Premier League - something fans are all too familiar with...
Liverpool v Manchester United - Premier League
Man United are seventh in the Premier League table (Image: Getty)
Benjamin Sesko finds his shooting boots
When United snatched Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig this summer in a £74m deal, many fans and pundits were aware that they weren't getting a finished product. Despite the Slovenian international netting 13 goals in the Bundesliga last season, there were lingering doubts about how he would adapt to the rigours of the English top flight - one of the most physically demanding leagues in global football.
At just 22, his lack of experience was also flagged as a potential issue, with some wondering if United were setting themselves up for a repeat of history by relying on the young striker to lead the attack without a seasoned pro to learn from. After all, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee found themselves in a similar situation last season, managing a mere seven Premier League goals between them.
Nottingham Forest v Manchester United - Premier League
Benjamin Sesko has struggled to find the net so far this season (Image: Getty)
While Sesko has already notched up two goals and an assist this season, these figures pale in comparison to the prolific scoring records of the strikers who played under Sir Alex Ferguson's legendary tenure - think Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie...
Bryan Mbeumo is currently leading the scoring charts for Manchester United this season, having found the back of the net five times, while Casemiro follows closely with three goals from midfield. However, if United are to secure a spot in European football next season, manager Amorim will be expecting more from his first-choice striker.
Yet, he may have to wait for his summer signing to hit top form, as it was recently revealed that Sesko will miss November's international duty due to a knee injury sustained during United's 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Saturday. Consequently, he will remain at Carrington for further assessment, leaving United fans anxiously hoping that his injury isn't too serious and he'll be fit to face Everton in two weeks' time.
United sign £52m midfielder
United's struggles in midfield have been evident recently, with 33 year old Casemiro unable to cover as much ground as he did during his prime at Real Madrid. Despite attempts to bolster their midfield with the acquisition of Carlos Baleba this summer, their pursuit of the Brighton prodigy fell through due to a hefty £100m price tag.
Despite Bruno Fernandes' recent shift to a more central role, questions remain about his effectiveness against more disciplined and composed teams. Despite having options like Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte at his disposal, it seems that Portuguese manager Amorim doesn't currently view either as a first-choice starter.
If United are serious about bolstering their squad's core in January, they should consider bringing in a new defensive-minded central midfielder. It seems the Reds are laying the groundwork for such a move, with VfB Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller reportedly in their sights.
According to reports, the German international is on a shortlist of six midfielders that United are currently considering. Jason Wilcox, according to Fabrizio Romano, has been a long-time admirer of Stiller and has been tracking his progress.
It's rumoured that Stiller has a release clause in his current contract, and it's believed that the Bundesliga giants could exercise their right to buy it out for around £1.7m before demanding a fee of up to £52m for Stiller. However, this is just over half the price Brighton were asking for Baleba only a few months ago.
Dalot axed
Amorim has stuck rigidly to his trademark 3-4-2-1 formation since his arrival at Manchester United a year ago, despite mounting pressure from supporters and pundits to alter his approach.
Naturally, the tactical setup contributed to the club's disappointing campaign last season, though Amorim was compelled to work with a squad predominantly assembled by Erik ten Hag featuring players who were, frankly speaking, ill-suited to his methods.
Whilst it seems Amorim's playing philosophy is finally bearing fruit, judging by United's recent string of results, Diogo Dalot has persistently battled with the system's requirements, frequently operating as a left wing-back - not his natural role.
The Portuguese full-back has faced criticism this campaign for expensive mistakes, with certain supporters and ex-players urging Amorim to deploy Patrick Dorgu in his place. Speaking to United District, Lee Sharpe pinpointed vulnerabilities down the left flank of his former side currently.
As quoted by the MEN, he said: "Both Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu have struggled at left wing-back for Manchester United this season. I've always thought Dalot is a bit sloppy in his decision-making at times – he gives the ball away cheaply and gets caught out of position defensively.
"I also don't think he gets close enough to wingers when they're crossing the ball, so there's a few things in his game that I feel need improving."
He continued: "Dorgu looks like he could become quite a good player, but he's had a couple of injuries and is a bit inconsistent with his form, so he's not quite ready to be relied on just yet."
It's evident that should United wish to address any current deficiencies, they may need to either modify their approach to suit Dalot's abilities, place trust in Dorgu, or investigate the January transfer window for an established wing-back.