Manchester United are 7/1 to win the Premier League next season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but what are the realistic targets for the new Old Trafford boss?
The news everyone seemingly knew was coming was finally confirmed as the Old Trafford legend went full-time at United after the most successful, and high profile, job interview ever.
He's had a record start to his tenure, and spirits are high on and off the field as his players have been playing with freedom, joy and banging in goals left, right and centre.
- Solskjaer goes full time at United
- Ole's Old Trafford to-do list
- Man Utd transfer targets
- Solskjaer's stats at Old Trafford
The bookies have responded by installing United as 7/1 shots to win the Premier League next season, but there's a lot of work to do for Solskjaer to try and overhaul Pep Guardiola's Man City or Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool who both look strong enough to challenge next year as well.
There must be a word of caution here, as Solskjaer will, inevitably, go through a lean spell at some point, and his wonderful start will also raise expectations for next season so that anything other than a big title challenge will lead to disappointment.
Signings will also make a huge difference, and we don't quite know if Solskjaer will be given full responsibility for transfer dealings or whether Ed Woodward and the board will merely listen to his needs and take it from there.
Man Utd odds 2019/20
Solskjaer's targets next season
With a squad already littered with world class players though, and the prospect of more coming in the summer, a trophy should be well within United's sights next season, while the top four will be the minimum requirement regardless of how this year pans out.
Although silverware is always welcome, there's still a feeling that merely winning the Carabao Cup, or even the FA Cup, is not the main aim for the new Manchester United manager.
It's a great day out for the fans but it's making a sustained challenge for the Premier League and Champions League that will be the measure of how Solskjaer is doing at Old Trafford.
Finishing this season strong
There is, of course, still a lot to play for this season and Solskjaer could yet engineer a flying finish to the campaign and walk away with a top four finish in the Premier League and the Champions League trophy!
They face a tough test in Europe with Barcelona looming in the quarter-finals, but nobody gave them a chance against PSG in the last round and that result in the second leg in Paris will ensure Lionel Messi and company will never rest comfortably.
On the domestic front, they're in a four-way battle with Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal for two Champions League spots, with just four points separating the quartet with just eight games to go.
Man Utd 2018/19 season odds
