Manchester United’s game away to Aston Villa on Thursday evening holds huge importance at both ends of the Premier League table.
The Reds can go within one point from Leicester in fourth place with a fourth consecutive league win. Meanwhile, relegation-battling Villa will be desperate to register their first victory since the restart last month.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are riding the quest of a wave at the moment and have an opportunity to break a Premier League record at Villa Park with a fourth consecutive victory by a margin of +3 goals.
While the only objective for United will be to secure the three points, another good performance from the attacking quintet of Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford could yield plenty more goals.
Another interesting subplot to Thursday’s match is that United are reportedly tracking two of Villa’s key men that are expected to start.
United’s interest in Villa’s club captain and talisman Jack Grealish has been widely documented and he will likely be the opposition’s most dangerous creative outlet.
As reported by Sky Sports, Solskjaer is a fan of the Englishman who could offer more variety in United’s attacking options.
Grealish scored a stunning goal at Old Trafford in the 2-2 in January and would love to make his mark again against the Reds.
Stretty News spoke exclusively to Grealish’s agent Jonathan Barnett on Tuesday, who confirmed that no deal has been agreed between the two clubs over a transfer and that his focus is firmly fixed on his boyhood club’s survival bid.
Meanwhile, Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings. has also reportedly emerged as a surprise name on Solskjaer’s list of summer targets.
ESPN report that United could decide to use their funds to strengthen in central defence and Mings was mentioned as a player that could partner Harry Maguire at the back.
Mings, 27, has been an ever-present for Villa this season making 28 Premier League starts. He was also handed his international debut by Gareth Southgate in England’s 6-0 victory away to Bulgaria in October, a game overshadowed by racist chanting from the home fans.
United’s two reported transfer targets are likely to have huge impacts on the result at each end of the pitch in Thursday’s crucial fixture.
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