The England national football team will lock horns with Italy in a mouth-watering UEFA 2020 final, which will be played at the Wembley Stadium in London in the early hours of Monday, July 12.

Under the tutelage of head coach Gareth Southgate, The Three Lions will aim to end their 55-year wait for a piece of major international silverware. They last won the 1966 FIFA World Cup and are yet to lift a UEFA European Championship title.

On the other hand, Roberto Mancini’s Italy national football team has been on a 33-match unbeaten streak and the Azzurri will look to claim their second UEFA European Championship after clinching their maiden title at home in 1968.

Ahead of the final showdown, we picked our combined XI (3-4-3) from both the world-class squads:

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)

Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and England custodian Jordan Pickford have had stellar Euro 2020 campaigns for their respective sides. While England shot-stopper Pickford has been confirmed as the Euro 2020 Golden Glove winner for keeping five clean sheets and conceding just one goal in six matches so far, Italy No. 1 Donnarumma saved Spain’s Alvaro Morata’s penalty in the shootout to help the Italians secure a place in the final. 

 

The 22-year-old Italian keeper has conceded three goals in six matches and has kept three clean sheets in the ongoing tournament. While it was difficult to choose between the two, we have gone with Donnarumma as our preferred choice for his commanding presence between the sticks.

Centre-backs: Leonardo Bonucci (Italy), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy) and Harry Maguire (England) 

Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson famously stated, “attack wins you games, defence wins you titles.�?The duo of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini have been the stalwarts of the Italian defence for more than a decade now. The two veteran centre-backs have once again been rock solid at the ongoing European Championship, registering three clean sheets for the Azzurri.

 

Slotting in a three-man defence will be England centre-back, Harry Maguire. After missing the opening few games due to fitness concerns at Euro 2020, the 28-year-old Manchester United captain has been instrumental at the heart of England’s defence since returning to the playing XI in the group stage encounter against Czech Republic.

Right wingback: Kyle Walker (England)

Kyle Walker pips his Italian counterpart Giovanni Di Lorenzo for the right-back position for our combined XI. The 31-year-old Manchester City defender has been one of the standout players for The Three Lions at the ongoing European Championship. With his searing pace, Walker has been providing width in attack and stability to the England backline with his impressive recovery speed. In this system, Walker will have more freedom to attack and link up with the forward line.

 

Left wingback: Luke Shaw (England)

Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola would have been an automatic choice for the left-back position if not for the horrific injury that he suffered during their 2-1 win over Belgium in the UEFA Euro 2020 quarter-final. The Roma full-back was one of the most influential players for the Italian side in the tournament. In Spinazzola’s absence, England full-back Luke Shaw has been picked in the left-back position. The Manchester United defender has been outstanding with his marauding runs forward and has provided three assists in the tournament. 

Midfielders: Marco Verratti (Italy), Jorginho (Italy)

For the midfield role, we have picked the Italian duo of Marco Verratti and Jorginho ahead of the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice and Manuel Locatelli. While PSG’s Verratti has once again shown why he is touted as one of the best deep-lying midfielders in the world, Chelsea’s Jorginho has become the heartbeat of the Italian national side. Both Verratti and Jorginho have been vital cogs in the Azzurri midfield, controlling the tempo of matches. 

Forwards: Raheem Sterling (England), Harry Kane (England) and Lorenzo Insigne (Italy) 

Raheem Sterling has arguably been England's player of the tournament at Euro 2020. The Manchester City winger has scored three goals and assisted once in the ongoing edition of the European Championship. In our 3-4-3 formation, the 26-year-old will play at the right-wing position ahead of Italy’s Federico Chiesa and Bukayo Saka of England. 

 

On the other hand, picking Harry Kane as the striker in our combined XI is a no-brainer. The Tottenham Hotspur forward has already bagged four goals in the tournament and is just one behind Euro 2020 top-scorers Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrik Schick, who have scored five apiece. For the left-wing position, we have picked Italy’s Lorenzo Insigne ahead of England’s Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho. The Napoli winger has been impressive for Italy, scoring a wonder goal against Belgium in the quarter-final. 

Manager: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

For our combined XI, we have picked Italy’s Roberto Mancini as our head coach over his England counterpart Gareth Southgate. The former Manchester City manager has transformed the Italian national side after the Azzurri had failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 60 years. Since then in three years, Italy have produced some delightful football and are currently on a 33-match unbeaten streak, which is a national record.

Featured photo: ALBERTO LINGRIA / Andy Rain /Matt Dunham/Laurence GRIFFITHS, Frank AUGSTEIN //POOL / AFP

As one of the first major fallouts from Harry Maguire's ongoing legal drama, he has been withdrawn from the England squad for their upcoming Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark.

The 27-year-old was found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and repeated attempts of bribery and given a 21-month-10-day suspended prison sentence, on account of it being a first offence and the charges being misdemeanours.

While Maguire is planning to appeal against the verdict, England manager Gareth Southgate has decided to remove him from the squad ahead of September's matches, not too long after including him in the squad.

Speaking to the FA's website, Southgate said, "In light of this evening's developments, I can confirm I have withdrawn Harry Maguire from the England squad for the matches against Iceland and Denmark."

"As I said earlier today, I reserved the right to review the situation. Having spoken to Manchester United and the player, I have made this decision in the best interests of all parties and with consideration of the impact on our preparations for next week."

Maguire, along with brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman, was arrested in the wee hours of Friday morning after the three altercated with the police outside a bar on the Greek island of Mykonos.

Maguire, who had flown back to England before the trial, said, "Following the hearing today, I have instructed my legal team with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing."

"I remain strong and confident regarding our innocence in this matter - if anything myself, family and friends are the victims."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Adrian Dennis

Following Manchester United captain Harry Maguire's arrest after an altercation on the Greek island of Mykonos last week, his legal team's request to the local court to postpone the trial was denied and the proceedings are set to go ahead.

While he was reportedly released from police custody on the night of the incident itself, Maguire did not have enough time to go over the charges levelled against him.

The 27-year-old was not present in the court but he pleaded not guilty and denied the charges of aggravated assault and attempted bribery of an official.

The incident allegedly got started after the England international got into an argument outside the Fabrica bar in Mykonos, followed by 'very abusive and aggressive' behaviour towards the officers who attempted to intervene at the scene.

As per police reports, the scuffle broke out outside the bar in the early hours of Friday morning and two other Englishmen along with Maguire began abusing the officers.

With major holiday spots out of reach due to the various lockdowns necessitated by the global pandemic, Maguire, along with his fellow Red Devils Marcus Rashford and Brandon Williams, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, Leicester's Jamie Vardy and Tottenham's Dele Alli had headed down to the Greek island to celebrate their post-season downtime.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Eurokinissi

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been arrested for attacking police officers after being involved in an altercation on the Greek island of Mykonos.

As per reports, the incident got started after the 27-year-old England international allegedly got into an argument with two other Englishmen, after which he became 'very abusive and aggressive' towards officers who arrived at the scene to intervene.

As per police reports, the brawl broke out outside Mykonos' Fabrica bar in the wee hours of Friday morning, and two other men along with Maguire began abusing the officers.

"When the brawl was all sorted out, one of the two groups - with the football players - started verbally abusing officers. There were several policemen there. At some point, one of the three members of the group - they were aged 27, 28, and 29 - threw a swing at one of the policemen and a fight ensued," said a local police spokesman.

"All of the three were arrested but during the effort to do so, the other two, including the football player, got violent also. They threw down at least two policemen, hit them with their fists and kicked them.

"I can't tell you what they were telling us. All English swear words against the authorities and against the work of the police."

Maguire, along with the two other men, is being held in custody, locked up in a Mykonos cell and are scheduled to appear before a state prosecutor on the island of Syros later today to be charged with aggravated assault.

On Thursday, Maguire was pictured at a pool party with fellow Red Devils Marcus Rashford and Brandon Williams, along with Love Island star Chris Hughes and snooker player Judd Trump.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff

Long gone are the days when central defenders used to just sit back and look for potential danger. Football, over the years, has made significant headway, which has seen the defenders being a pivotal part of the team’s attack from the back.

This is a role which has shaped up from being just a guard to being a distributor across the field; a trait which a certain Virgil van Dijk has mastered to mere perfection.

The Liverpool defender, who began his professional career with the Eredivise side Groningen, has gone from strength to strength to become one of the best in the sport. Rising to prominence during his two-and-a-half-year spell with Southampton, the towering centre-half has turned 29 today, and on this occasion, we look at five of the most expensive defenders of all time.

Aymeric Laporte �?Joined Manchester City from Athletic Bilbao for £57m

Pep Guardiola’s surge of acquiring a ball-playing centre-back for Manchester City took him to Aymeric Laporte back in 2016. However, it took one-and-a-half years for the Spanish coach to convince him to sign for the Cityzens.

In January 2018, Laporte finally landed in England, signing a five-year contract with City for £57m, making him the club’s most expensive signing. Since arriving, the 26-year-old has constantly struggled with injuries, but when fit, he is duly capable of delivering what is expected of him.

Matthijs de Ligt �?Joined Juventus from Ajax for £67.5m

A season after guiding Ajax to their first-ever UEFA Champions League semi-final since the 1996-97 season, defender Matthijs de Ligt found himself in the midst of a sheer tug of war between the likes of Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. It was, however, the Turin club who managed to convince him.

Handing in a five-year contract, Juventus paid £67.5m to Ajax for the prodigy, who now has a buyout clause of �?50m (£135.6m) included in his contract, which will come into effect after June 2022.

Arriving at the club with much fanfare, the Dutch centre-back has endured a rather difficult start to his new life. Recent improvements, however, have been a huge sigh of relief for the Old Lady.

Lucas Hernandez �?Joined Bayern Munich from Atletico Madrid for £68m

A year after winning the coveted FIFA World Cup with France, defender Lucas Hernandez moved from Atletico Madrid to Bayern Munich for a club-record fee of £68m, making him one of the most expensive defenders of all time.

A versatile defender who can play as a left-back and also as a centre-back, Hernandez has found it hard to break into Bayern’s first team, having been limited to just 19 league appearances in the 2019/20 Bundesliga season. Ankle and knee injuries have further played its part in dislodging him from the starting XI, with make-shift centre-back David Alaba and Jerome Boateng acquiring the spots.

Virgil van Dijk �?Joined Liverpool from Southampton for £75m

Liverpool and Southampton were involved in an ugly spat while dealing with the transfer of Virgil van Dijk. His move to the red half of Merseyside was imminent when he handed in a transfer request in August 2017, but the move fell through before Liverpool issued a public apology for making an alleged illegal approach for the then 26-year-old.

In December 2017, however, Liverpool announced that they have reached an agreement with Southampton for van Dijk. The Reds paid a then world-record fee of £75m, making the Dutch the most expensive defender of all time.

Their investment has been duly paid off as van Dijk has not only improved Jurgen Klopp’s defence but has also guided them to the UEFA Champions League as well as Premier League glory in two years. His brilliance has gone to an extent that he went an incredible 64 games in the 2018/19 season without being dribbled past.

Harry Maguire �?Joined Manchester United from Leicester City for £80m

In August 2019, defender Harry Maguire became one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first Manchester United signings, arriving from Leicester City for a record £80m fee.

And regardless of what has been said about the fee, Maguire has well and truly improved a lacking Manchester United defence. Playing every single minute of the Premier League this season, his presence has made the Red Devils one of the finest defensive units, having conceded just 33 goals in as many league games. Only champions Liverpool (25), Manchester City (34) and Leicester (31) have conceded fewer goals than United.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Manchester United's strength in depth will be crucial to their bid to win the FA Cup after they moved into the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over 10-man Norwich on Saturday.

Solskjaer's side had to work hard for their last-four place as Harry Maguire won it late in extra time at Carrow Road.

Odion Ighalo's opener was cancelled out by Norwich's Todd Cantwell, but Canaries defender Timm Klose was sent off for hauling down Ighalo in the 89th minute.

United gradually wore Norwich down and England defender Maguire pounced to extend their unbeaten run to 14 games in all competitions.

United, who won their 12th and most recent FA Cup in 2016, remain on course to reach the final for the second time in three years.

"I'm delighted to be in the last four. Many of these players did not play the last game and now have 90 or 120 minutes in their legs," Solskjaer said.

Read | Maguire confident Man Utd on course to compete for titles again

"We made many changes so I didn't make it easy for the players. The game was not the greatest spectacle but I felt we kept the ball ok.

"It is great to have the option to rotate. Anthony Martial came on and did brilliant, but Odion Ighalo gives me a chance to rotate.

"He is a proven goalscorer and played his part in both goals."

Exactly 114 days after United won at Derby in the fifth round on March 5, the FA Cup returned following the hiatus due to the global pandemic, with the competition's first-ever match in June.

Solskjaer made eight changes as only Maguire, Luke Shaw and Bruno Fernandes survived from the midweek Premier League win against Sheffield United.

United's stand-ins were out of sync for much of a first half that followed the pattern of many post-lockdown matches, both teams lacking energy and invention.

In a rare threat, Maguire had to stop Lukas Rupp's shot with an alert block after Cantwell's run opened up the visitors' defence.

Solskjaer's team finally awoke from their slumber after the interval and grabbed the lead in the 51st minute.

Luke Shaw's cross was helped on by Juan Mata and Ighalo sniffed out the chance, flicking an agile finish past Tim Krul from inside the six-yard box.

The Nigerian has scored in each of his four United starts, making it five goals in 11 appearances since he arrived from Shanghai Shenhua in January.

Frantic finale

Norwich were playing in their first FA Cup quarter-final since 1992, but Canaries boss Daniel Farke had dampened the mood when he insisted they had no chance of winning the competition.

Despite Farke's pessimism, Norwich nearly equalised when Ben Godfrey stretched to reach Alexander Tettey's header from Emiliano Buendia's free-kick.

Norwich kept pressing and drew level in the 75th minute when Cantwell's 20-yard strike swerved away from slow-to-react United keeper Sergio Romero.

Suddenly in the ascendency, Norwich almost won it in the final minutes when Buendia shot just past the far post.

Read | Harry Maguire vs Virgil van Dijk: World’s costliest defenders

But with extra-time looming, Fernandes' superb flick found Ighalo on the edge of the area and Klose's panicked response, hauling down the Nigerian, triggered a red card from referee Jonathan Moss.

Krul made good saves to keep out efforts from United substitutes Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood in a frantic finale.

With five subs allowed since the lockdown and an additional one given to teams who go to extra time in the FA Cup, United become the first English side to make six changes in the same game when Anthony Martial replaced Eric Bailly.

United dominated extra time and Marcus Rashford's strike was pushed over by Krul, who made an even better save to stop Maguire's header.

Maguire wasn't to be denied and in the 118th minute, United's pressure finally told as the England defender poked home from close range after Ighalo flicked on.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Catherine Ivill

There is no denying the impact that Virgil van Dijk has made since arriving at Liverpool in January 2018 for a then world-record fee of £75 million. The towering Dutchman was the missing piece in the puzzle for Jurgen Klopp’s side and since bringing him on board, they have gone on to scale great heights.

From making the UEFA Champions League final in 2017/18 and winning it in the next campaign to following it up with a Premier League title tilt this season, Liverpool have been near-unstoppable. And van Dijk’s contribution to this success is invaluable.

Last summer though, van Dijk was displaced as the most expensive defender in the world. Manchester United splashed a new record fee of £80 million to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester City. And naturally, comparisons between the two have been flying ever since.

Maguire has grown into a pivotal player for Manchester United in his debut season. The England international was also handed the club captaincy after Ashley Young’s departure in January.

But how does he measure up against van Dijk when comparing their performances from the 2019/20 season?

Both Maguire and van Dijk have appeared in 29 matches in the Premier League this season, although the former has slightly more minutes than the Liverpool man, who had to be subbed off in a game.

Defence

Both are of similar physical stature, which they put to good use in aerial battles in their own box as well as the opposition penalty area. Maguire has won 136 of his 190 attempted aerial duels this season (71.5 percent), which comes to 4.7 duels won per game. In comparison, van Dijk has a slightly better win percentage of 75.2 (143 wins of 190 attempts), with 4.9 aerial duel wins per game.

Tackles and interceptions are key measures that give an indication of a defender’s performance. Maguire edges van Dijk in both these parameters, averaging 1.1 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game, whereas the Liverpool star posts numbers of 0.8 tackles and one interception every game.

Read | Who could stay or leave this summer? Liverpool’s squad assessed

In total, Maguire has won 32 out of his 45 tackle attempts and affected 53 interceptions, while van Dijk has won 22 out of his 28 attempts and made 30 interceptions. The Manchester United man has made 24 blocks and 132 clearances so far in the top flight, whereas the Liverpool defender has 19 blocks and 135 clearances.

Coming to disciplinary record, van Dijk stands above Maguire, having picked up just one yellow card this season, in comparison to his counterpart’s four. Moreover, the Liverpool man has conceded much fewer fouls (10) than Maguire (24) in the Premier League.

Passing and dribbling

A modern central defender is required to possess ball-playing abilities, which both Maguire and van Dijk do. Both men are able to pick passes accurately and step out of the backline with the ball at their feet when needed.

Van Dijk has completed 2210 of his 2478 attempted passes this season, posting an excellent pass accuracy of 89.2 percent. The Netherlands international makes an average of 85.4 passes and 0.2 key passes every game.

In comparison, Maguire has made 1553 successful passes (1823 attempts) at a success rate of 85.2. The Englishman attempts 62.9 passes per game but outdoes van Dijk when it comes to key passes, with 0.5 every game.

However, one must factor in that Liverpool tend to dominate possession in most matches, averaging 59 percent per game, whereas Manchester United post an average possession stat of 53.3 percent.

The Liverpool star has completed two out of three attempted dribbles this term, whereas the Manchester United captain has successfully completed six out ten dribbles this season. Van Dijk has also been dispossessed fewer times (2) this season, in comparison to Maguire (4).

Attack

Coming to their direct goal involvement, van Dijk stands head and shoulder above Maguire. The Liverpool man has netted four goals and assisted one more, whereas the Manchester United centre-back is yet to open his goalscoring account in the Premier League but does have an assist to his name.

Maguire’s shot accuracy has been quite poor this term, with him hitting the target on just eight occasions out of 26 attempts. Van Dijk, on the other hand, has been on target 11 times in 23 attempts. As a result, Maguire has also missed more big chances (4) than van Dijk this season (2).

Read | How the coronavirus crisis is likely to affect the transfer market

Teamplay

Both Maguire and van Dijk are leaders of their respective teams on the field. And their presence has invariably helped performances for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.

The fact that Liverpool boast the best defensive record in the Premier League (21 goals conceded) has a lot to do with van Dijk’s performance and his ability to keep things organised at the back.

On the other hand, United are the fourth-best in the league in terms of goals conceded (30), which is a major improvement from last season, during which they had conceded these many by Matchweek 18 itself, showing the impact Maguire’s arrival has made.

With Maguire commanding things at the back, the performances of those around him, especially Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw, have improved drastically. In a similar fashion, Joel Matip looked a much better defender playing alongside van Dijk last season, while he has had the same effect on Joe Gomez this term.

One key stat that proves Maguire’s impact is that he and Lindelof have not made a single error leading to an opposition shot on goal in the 26 matches they have started together in the Premier League. In comparison, van Dijk and Gomez have made two such errors in much fewer games (14) played together this season.

Verdict

Maguire and van Dijk have had terrific seasons for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively, both playing integral roles in their team’s fortunes. Naturally, they are the highest-rated defenders in the Premier League, according to stats experts WhoScored.com.

Looking at the finer aspects of their performances, it can be gauged that defensively, they have been more or less equally good, but van Dijk edges out Maguire when it comes to attacking contributions.

Regardless, it has been said that with their consistent, top-class performances this season, both van Dijk and Maguire have provided ample returns on the sizable chunks of change spent by their respective teams.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff / Paul Ellis

Stats courtesy: WhoScored.com, PremierLeague.com

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire believes the Red Devils are on the right track towards contending for the Premier League title again.

United have not won the league since Alex Ferguson retired as manager in 2013 and were a mammoth 37 points behind leaders Liverpool when the Premier League season was put on hold due to coronavirus last month.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were on an 11-match unbeaten run before the shutdown with Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka beginning to repay the lavish sums spent on them last summer and January signing Bruno Fernandes making an immediate impact.

"I knew when I first came to Manchester United that Ole said to me loads and loads it's a building process but we'll be where we want to be." Maguire told Sky Sports.

Read | How can Manchester United line up with both Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba

"There are plenty of aspects we need to improve to get to the top of where we want to be. We don't want to be challenging for this Champions League spot, we want to be challenging for titles.

"We know there's still a lot of improvement to get there, but we're on the right track and I'm sure eventually we will get there."

United sat fifth in the table when matches were suspended and still in the running for silverware in the FA Cup and Europa League.

Should the season be able to be completed in the coming months, Solskjaer's options could be strengthened by the return from injury of Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba.

Pogba has been restricted to just eight appearances all season by a persistent ankle problem, but Maguire hopes the French World Cup winner and Fernandes can form a potent partnership in midfield.

Read | Rating Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s signings at Manchester United

"He's been brilliant since he's come in, off the field around the training ground, he's a leader and wants to win, everything he does he wants to win, you can tell he's been brought up with that attitude," Maguire added on Fernandes.

"He's just given us that little bit more life and creativity in the middle.

"We've got Paul to come back as well, who I'm sure will probably make himself (Fernandes) lift his game even more.

"We have a lot of competition in that centre midfield now, they know they have to be on their game to keep their spot, so I'm sure we'll see the benefit."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has agreed to supply a food package of everyday essentials to the elderly during the coronavirus lockdown.

Maguire and his father approached Herrings Top Shop in Mosborough, his hometown near Sheffield in the north of England, about the idea of giving the parcels to those aged 70 and over or their carers in the area.

"I am very proud of my Mosborough roots - it's where I grew up and where my family still live. I come back to visit everyone as much as I can," Maguire said on Friday.

"There's always been a real sense of community in the area which is more important than ever at the moment. In times like these, you think a lot about your loved ones and those that are more elderly.

"My family and I hope that this provides small comfort to people who might be struggling."

England defender Maguire has been at the forefront of football's bid to help with the pandemic.

He coordinated United's response to the PlayersTogether initiative, with Premier League stars joining forces to help generate funds for NHS charities during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Premier League is suspended for the foreseeable future, but the 27-year-old remains in contact with his United team-mates and is adhering to a regime his club have sent him.

"Like everyone, I'm keeping to the government advice and trying to make the best of the situation," Maguire said.

"My daughter is too young to understand what's going on right now, but she'll read about these times in the years to come.

"I'm also keeping active and following the training programme that United have given me within the confines of my back garden!

"It's not quite Old Trafford but I still take pride in keeping the grass in good nick. I also keep in touch with all my team-mates and have found that contact to be really important, as well as family of course."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff

When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over the Manchester United managerial job, it was clear that a rebuild was the need of the hour. The squad, left behind by Jose Mourinho, was low on confidence, disjointed and needed restructuring.

And Solskjaer, who has overseen two transfer windows now, after being handed the reins on a permanent basis a little over a year ago, has done a solid job so far. True, the season was off to a dodgy start, but Manchester United have recovered admirably and are in contention for a top-four finish, while still being in the hunt for the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League. 

Solskjaer’s task is not complete by any stretch of the imagination, but the Norwegian has brought back the positive atmosphere around Old Trafford, with his five new signings playing a crucial part along the way. 

Read | Premier League team of the season �?Excluding top six clubs

But which of Solskjaer’s signing has made the most impact since arriving at the Theatre of Dreams? Let’s find out;

Daniel James �?7/10

Arriving from Swansea City for a modest fee of £15 million, there weren’t a lot of expectations on Daniel James, given that he had just played one full season with the senior team. But the manner in which he started life at Manchester United �?with a goal on his debut against Chelsea �?sent the Red Devils�?faithful over the moon.

Indeed, James enjoyed a fantastic first month in Manchester United colours, and suddenly the Welshman became a key member of Solskjaer’s side at a time when many expected him to be a squad player at most. 

The goals dried up for James soon enough, but he continued to make a difference on the pitch with his relentless running and work-rate off the ball. His goal-drought finally came to an end earlier this month, leaving him with a tally of four goals and seven assists in 37 games till date.

There is plenty to like about James�?game �?his searing pace, the willingness to keep on running and the way he shrugs off tackles from opponents and gets back up. The 22-year-old has made a solid impact at Manchester United, but there is still a lot of work to be done on his game, mainly with regard to his decision-making.

Read | Five centre-backs Manchester City should target in summer

Aaron Wan-Bissaka �?8.5/10

There were many who felt that Manchester United had overspent when they splashed £45 million to sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace. After all, he had played just one full season with the Eagles�?first-team prior to the switch. But boy has he proved everyone wrong!

Wan-Bissaka did not take long to endear himself to the Manchester United supporters with his crunching tackles and solid defending. The 22-year-old has gone onto become one of the best in his position in the Premier League and even earned a call-up to the England national team, but an injury deprived him of a chance to earn an international cap.

Wan-Bissaka, so far this season, has made 34 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United, contributing with two assists. Furthermore, he has made a whopping 99  tackles in the Premier League this seasons, with only Leicester City’s Ricardo Pereira making more (118), although the latter has played over 200 minutes more than Wan-Bissaka.

While there are no doubts over Wan-Bissaka's defensive capabilities, his attacking output does leave a lot to be desired, considering that a modern-day full-back is expected to act as a key attacking outlet for the teams. Wan-Bissaka has shown improvement in that facet of the game as well recently though, reinforcing a belief that Manchester United have a gem on their hands.

Read | Five players who could move to the Premier League this summer

Harry Maguire �?8/10

A lot of eyebrows were raised when Manchester United decided to splash a whopping £80 million to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester City last summer, in the process, making him the world’s most expensive defender.

While there is still a long way to go for Maguire to repay that outlay completely, he has shown why United were willing to go all out for him. The Englishman has helped the Red Devils�?defence improve considerably from where they were last season. His presence on the field has brought a sense of assurance to the backline, while the composure he exudes when on the ball and his strong aerial presence have been particular standouts.

But it is the authority and the leadership qualities that has made Maguire such a hit at Manchester United. From his first game, the England international has taken over the leadership mantle at the club. So, it was hardly surprising that he was appointed the club captain after Ashley Young’s departure in January.

There have been mistakes here and there, while he is also capable of scoring more than the two goals he has scored so far given his aerial strengths. But Maguire, without a doubt, has played a huge role in the club’s revival under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and has also had a positive impact on fellow defender Victor Lindelof’s game.

Read | Three potential destinations for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Bruno Fernandes �?9/10

If reports are to be believed, Manchester United spent the entire summer trying to sign the Portuguese playmaker, but were unable to close the deal. However, they ensured that a repeat of the same did not happen in January. And what an inspired piece of business this has proved to be for the Red Devils!

It is no secret that Manchester United were lacking the creative element in their game for the entire first half of the season, especially with Paul Pogba out injured. But Bruno Fernandes�?arrival has addressed that issue in some style.

Fernandes�?effect at Manchester United has been infectious, to say the least. While the Portuguese has contributed heavily with three goals and four assists in just nine matches, it is the impact that he has had on the players around him that makes him such a special signing for United. In his short time at the club, the 25-year-old has struck up a fine partnership with fellow midfielder Fred and star striker Anthony Martial.

It is no surprise that Manchester United have gone on to an 11-game unbeaten run following the Portuguese’s arrival at the club. Fernandes has made a huge difference at United, not only with his football but with also his natural leadership. 

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Odion Ighalo �?8/10

A signing that was termed bizarre, a transfer that was said to be another knee-jerk decision by Ed Woodward & co �?the January deadline day signing of Odion Ighalo, on loan from Shanghai Shenhua, was ridiculed by pundits and rival fans alike. But it has taken very little time for the Nigerian centre-forward to make those naysayers eat their own words. 

Ighalo’s signing was one out of need and necessity, with Marcus Rashford facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. And the former Watford striker, who had left the Premier League for China three years ago, has justified Manchester United and Solskjaer’s decision to take a punt on him.

Ighalo has made such an impact during his short stint at the club that there are already talks about making his transfer a permanent one before next season kicks off. The 30-year-old, a boyhood Manchester United supporter, has scored four goals and set up one more in four starts in all competitions.

Goals and assists aside, Ighalo has also led the line admirably. Holding the ball up effectively, bringing his teammates into play with sharp link-up, the 30-year-old has brought a different flavour to the Manchester United squad �?something that they were lacking.