The end of the season is inching ever closer, with just eleven Premier League games left before we’re left to our own devices for the summer, which means that thoughts inevitably begin to turn towards the transfer market once again.
With transfer rumours getting more traction than ever in the online universe, links ahead of the summer have been out there for weeks, and one trend has begun to show.
It may seem an obvious point to make, as they’re both top clubs in the biggest league in football, however, Manchester United and Chelsea have been tipped with interest in the same players on more than a few occasions.
What’s interesting here is not that they are after the same players, everyone wants the best playing staff for their own club, but that Jose Mourinho’s side will more than compete with the champions elect and, more often than not, will get their man ahead of the Portuguese’s former employers this summer.
The Red Devils are still in with a shot at the top four and Champions League qualification this season, whether that be through their league finish or a Europa League win, however it is still highly likely that they’ll be playing on Thursday nights once again next term.
On the other hand, Antonio Conte’s side are all but Premier League champions, could end the season as double winners and will have to throw their position away in unprecedented fashion to miss out on UEFA’s top club competition next season.
However, the attraction for players does not end there. Look what happened to Chelsea after their won their last title. There is no suggestion that a tenth placed finish is in store for the blues next season, but prospective players need to be pitched an exciting project and, whilst the west Londoners have an impressive new stadium in the works as well as an incredible squad, they just can’t trump United’s project.
The red half of Manchester have, in the last year alone, attracted arguably the most acclaimed manager in world football at the moment, the best so-called journeyman striker in the game and broken the world transfer record. All that whilst outside of the Europa League.
With that in mind, all the likes of Ed Woodward and his colleagues need do is point to those deals and say, ‘just think what we can do when we’re back on top.’ Names like Antoine Griezmann, Neymar, Thomas Muller and Antonio Rüdiger amongst others spring to mind but the sky is the limit you would think particularly if they have Champions League football secured but some would argue even if they don’t then they will still make the most noise in the summer transfer extravaganza.
And whilst they remain off the pace at the moment, there is no doubt the top is where they’re heading once again. The Red Devils are the biggest club in world football, according to Deloitte’s money list, have the best manager in world football and some of the biggest names, who could turn that down?