Manchester United's 2023-24 campaign ended on a high, beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final, but it would be fair to say that their start to the current season has been incredibly disappointing.
The Red Devils lost on penalties to Man City in the Community Shield on August 10, but they did manage to beat Fulham 1-0 in their Premier League opener on August 16, with Joshua Zirkzee hitting the winner on his debut.
Those are the only points that Erik ten Hag's side have gathered in the Premier League this season, though, having since been beaten by both Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.
Man United were comfortably second-best against Liverpool, but on another day, they would have overcome Brighton, with Zirkzee's intervention on an Alejandro Garnacho effort preventing the visitors from taking a 2-1 lead at the Amex, and Ten Hag's side instead conceded a second in the 95th minute to lose.
Red Devils chiefs allegedly want to see a clear improvement in the playing style of the team this season, and there is hope that Manuel Ugarte's arrival will be a crucial one, with the Uruguay international the destroyer that Man United desperately need in the middle of midfield alongside Kobbie Mainoo.
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Garnacho, Mainoo were both nominated for the Kopa trophy
In Mainoo and Garnacho, Man United have two of the outstanding young talents in world football, with both players nominated for the 2024 Kopa Trophy.
The award will be presented to the best performing player under the age of 21, and although Barcelona's Lamine Yamal is the clear frontrunner, their presence on the shortlist is big for Man United.
Mainoo, 19, has already made 39 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring five times and registering one assist, while he has established himself as a key player for England.
The midfielder actually has the best dribble success rate (83.3%) of any player in Europe's top five leagues this season with more than 10 attempted.
Mainoo is an outstanding young talent, and the same can also be said for Garnacho, who has 16 goals and 11 assists in 90 appearances for Man United's first team in all competitions.
The 20-year-old will only get better as he gains more experience, and he is a key part of a crop of youngsters who have the potential to help Man United in their quest to return to former glories.
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Man United should soon confirm Obi Martin
The deal for Chido Obi Martin is a complicated one, and it was recently claimed that the case could go before a court to determine the compensation fee that Man United will owe to Arsenal.
However, the 16-year-old, who scored 32 goals in 18 league matches for Arsenal Under-18s last season, should soon be confirmed as a Man United player, with the Red Devils seemingly winning the race for one of the best young forwards in world football.
Obi Martin's numbers at Arsenal last season were incredible, including 10 goals against Liverpool Under-16s in a single match, and he managed 28 goals in his last nine games for Arsenal Under-18s.
Securing his signature will be a huge statement of intent and is another indication of the work that INEOS are putting in, even if the positives cannot be seen immediately.
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Man United have high hopes for Kone
Man United's signing of Sekou Kone from Guidars FC over the summer went under the radar, but the 18-year-old is also viewed as one of the outstanding young talents in world football.
Kone represented Mali at the Under-17s Africa Cup of Nations and Under-17s World Cup in 2023, helping his country to reach the semi-finals of both tournaments.
The midfielder will not initially be a part of the first-team squad, but considering his potential, it might not be too long before he is in and around the senior side at Old Trafford.
Toby Collyer, 20, was also handed his Premier League debut as a second-half substitute against Liverpool, and there are high hopes for the midfielder who arrived from Brighton in 2022.
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Yoro is viewed as a generational talent
Man United also managed to secure the signature of Leny Yoro over the summer, with the 20-time English champions beating Real Madrid to a deal.
The 18-year-old has not yet managed to make his first-team debut for the Red Devils, as he suffered a fractured metatarsal during a pre-season friendly against Arsenal.
Yoro will not be back until the end of November, but he is seen by many as a generational talent, with the Frenchman being tipped to become one of the leading defenders in world football.
Rasmus Hojlund also suffered a hamstring injury against Arsenal, but the 21-year-old could be back against Southampton after the international break, and there are high hopes for the Denmark international, who managed 16 goals in all competitions for Ten Hag's side last term.
Harry Amass, 17, also deserves a mention, with the left-back showing his potential during pre-season, and he has the ability to become an important player for the club in the coming seasons.
There is pain at the moment, with the club still attempting to navigate their way through a difficult spell, but there are plenty of reasons for the 20-time English champions to be optimistic about the future, especially with the proper structure that has now been put in place under INEOS.
CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox have all been brought in by minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, while there are new voices in the changing room in the shape of assistant managers Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake.
Matt Law
