Parlour makes Man Utd title ‘favourites’ claim as Feyenoord boss hails Ten Hag impact

Ray Parlour reckons Man Utd will finish third this season but will be “one of the favourites” to win the Premier League title in 2024.

With 14 games of the season left, the Red Devils are only nine points away from their entire total for last season as they finished a disappointing sixth in the Premier League.

They have been rejuvenated under Erik ten Hag this term with Man Utd currently third in the Premier League table as they prepare to face Newcastle at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final today.

Man Utd are also still in the Europa League after beating Barcelona earlier this week and face West Ham in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday.

Ten Hag’s men are now six points behind second-placed Man City with a game in hand, while they are eight points behind leaders Arsenal having played the same amount of matches.

And Arsenal legend Parlour thinks Man Utd will form a proper title challenge next season if “they can get the recruitment right again in summer”.

“What a signing Erik ten Hag has been,” Parlour told aceodds. “I didn’t doubt him at the start of him coming in.

“He had a few problems, obviously, Cristiano Ronaldo was his big problem. Trying to get rid of him, which he done in the end, and now you see them playing with so much confidence.

“I think they’ve improving as a team again. There’s probably going to be investment again in Manchester United in the summer. They could be a real force next year. I believe they can be.

“I think they’ll certainly be challenging for the title next year but this season I think they will finish third.

“They will try to chase down Man City and Arsenal, but I think they’ll be third, which will be Champions League football, which will be so important for the club as well. But I think next season, they could have a real go.

“If they can get the recruitment right again in summer and bring in a couple of real top class players.

“Casemiro has been a great signing for the midfield, very calm and knows exactly how to win trophies. Rashford’s been amazing. Then you’ve got people like Sancho who could suddenly now, find his feet after problems he’s had.

“I think Ten Hag has been a brilliant signing for Manchester United’s point of view. If he gets a bit of help from the board, I’m certain they’ll be one of the favourites next year to go for the title.”

Feyenoord manager Arne Slot has also been impressed with the job Ten Hag has done this season and hailed his impact on “the entire Dutch trainers’ guild”.

“Erik is doing great and that is fantastic for the entire Dutch trainers’ guild,” Slot told FCUpdate.

“It took quite a long time before a number of great trainers from the Netherlands got a successor. That seems to me to be the case with Ten Hag.

“Certainly the way it happens and how praiseworthy it is spoken about is a positive development for me and all Dutch people.”

READ MORE: Man Utd 7-4 Newcastle: Ten Hag’s men given the edge in Carabao Cup final combined XI