Manchester United Transfer News: Top 3 Is Realistic Target After Summer Spree

Ed Woodward expects Manchester United to finish in the top three of the 2014-15 Premier League season following the club's spending spree during the 2014 summer transfer window, and such a finish should be a realistic target for the Red Devils.

As reported by the Daily Mail's Nick Harris, the executive vice chairman told reporters Louis van Gaal will have the opportunity to identify reinforcements in the January window, while also stating the club's spending came with the assumption a third-place finish should be possible:

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We assume third in our budgets.

We don't intend to significantly increase capital expenditure (by buying players) in January.

We will continue to monitor in association with Louis his view of the squad and which areas we want to strengthen and which areas we want to sell.

I wouldn't have expectations for January but if there is a willingness from the manager, we will engage with him and if there is an opportunity, we will try and take that as we did last year with Juan Mata.

"

Woodward spoke at a press conference presenting the Red Devils' latest financial accounts, and as shared by Sky Sports News, those look pretty good:

The club invested heavily in the transfer market during the summer (£153.1 million, per Harris) and will likely see a drop in revenue for 2014-15 without the added income of the UEFA Champions League.

Envisioning where the spending could (or should) take the club is difficult. While some fans will expect immediate success after bringing in over £150 million worth of talent, others remain skeptical following the disastrous 2013-14 season and the equally bad start United has made this year.

Logic dictates the squad should be instant title contenders. After all, United won the Premier League in 2012-13 and added world-class players like Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria during the summer.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

But working with a new manager always requires time. Van Gaal is tasked with more than just making his team play good football. He'll need to get rid of the culture of negativity surrounding the club following the reign of David Moyes, and that's easier said than done.

New signings are also a double-edged sword. Chelsea's Diego Costa became an instant hit at Stamford Bridge, seemingly scoring at will. But the Blues had laid the foundation in 2013-14—all they had to do was add that one top striker.

For United, it's more complicated. They didn't just add one star striker, but several players who are expected to become vital components of the squad. All of those pieces will have to learn how to play together, a process that could take months.

Duane Burleson/Getty Images

Van Gaal also tinkered with the Red Devils' formation, opting for a 3-4-3. There's a good chance we'll see changes to the system in the coming weeks and months, something that will slow down the progress of the squad even more.

Considering those factors, another forgetful season would be a logical conclusion. Every top club goes through transitional periods—taking a season to figure things out doesn't have to be a disaster.

But United added too much talent to just be mediocre. Falcao and Di Maria are both world-class forwards, capable of winning matches for a struggling club on their own. They joined a squad already bulking with talent, and Wayne Rooney's struggles won't last for the duration of the 2014-15 season.

This squad will win matches on talent alone, and it doesn't hurt to have a manager with Van Gaal's pedigree calling the shots. Manchester City and Chelsea are too strong to give up their spot at the top of English football right now, but there's no reason United shouldn't target a battle with Arsenal and Liverpool for a top-three finish.

The Gunners have a strong squad, but there are questions about their depth in defence. The Reds are young, and while they have the talent to finish in the top three, it's unlikely they'll play with the consistency of a more experienced team.

A top-five finish wouldn't be a disaster for the Mancunians, but given the talent they can currently field, finishing ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool isn't out of the question. And after such a busy summer, United should be ambitious. While it will take time for this squad to transform into the club Woodward imagines, a top-three finish is a realistic goal.

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