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Manchester United are enjoying one of their best seasons in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, not just statistically but also in terms of the overall progress made by the squad.
Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has made a massive impact since taking over the reins at Manchester United and should be lauded for his man-management skills, which have led to many players rediscovering their form.
A case in point is the resurgence of Luke Shaw, who has established himself as one of Premier League’s finest left-backs under Solksjaer after a public ostracisation by former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.
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On that note, let's take a look at five of the most valuable players in Manchester United right now.
#5 Mason Greenwood | £45 million
We kick off our countdown with Manchester United’s teenage sensation Mason Greenwood, who is currently one of the brightest young prospects in world football.
Greenwood joined Manchester United’s reputed youth academy at the tender age of 6 and worked his way up the ranks to make his first-team debut in a UEFA Champions League encounter.
Then-17-year-old Greenwood became the Red Devils’ youngest debutant in the Champions League era as well as their youngest goalscorer in a European competition. The Englishman got his real breakthrough in the 2019-20 season, during which he was involved in 21 goals (17 goals, 4 assists) from 49 appearances across all competitions.
Greenwood has returned to his goalscoring ways in the ongoing season after going through a steep learning curve in the first half.
In his last seven appearances for the club, Greenwood notched up seven goals and an assist - taking his tally to 11 goals and six assists in the 2020-21 season.
#4 Anthony Martial | £45 million
Anthony Martial arrived from AS Monaco on a £54 million fee and had a dream start to his Manchester United career, scoring an incredible solo goal against arch-rivals Liverpool.
The Frenchman became the world’s most expensive teenager at the time, and there were lofty expectations on his young shoulders. While the former Golden Boy winner is one of the most talented and skilled players in the Premier League, he is known to be wildly inconsistent and spends a bit too much time on the ball - leading to a fall in his market value over the years.
However, with maturity, Martial has established himself as one of Manchester United’s leaders in the forward line, with more assists (8) than goals (7) this season, bringing the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, and Mason Greenwood into play.
The 25-year-old generally scores in patches, but the addition of assists and a wide range of passing has given a new dimension to his game over the past few seasons. He has made 103 appearances under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with 57 goal involvements (34 goals, 23 assists).
#3 Paul Pogba | £54 million
Paul Pogba became Manchester United’s most expensive signing when he made the move from Turin on a then-world record transfer fee of £95 million.
The Frenchman was a product of Manchester United’s youth academy, winning the 2011 FA Youth Cup alongside Jesse Lingard, Adnan Januzaj and Michael Keane. He earned a call-up to the first team under Sir Alex Ferguson and would make his senior debut against Leeds United in 2011.
However, the World Cup winner was not pleased with the limited game time at Manchester United and left the club on a free transfer to join forces with Italian champions Juventus.
The 28-year old earned recognition as one of the finest midfielders in world football during his four-year spell at Turin, winning 4 consecutive Serie A titles. He was also named Serie A Player of the Year for the 2013-14 season.
In his second Manchester United stint, Pogba has recorded 38 goals and 41 assists from 196 appearances across all competitions. The 28-year-old did not live up to the huge expectations of the fans and did not adapt well to Jose Mourinho’s tactics.
Paul Pogba remains one of the most talented operators in the middle of the park and seems to be blossoming under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s management.
#2 Marcus Rashford | £76.50 million
Another Manchester United youth academy product, Marcus Rashford has typified the grand tradition of the football club.
Born in the Greater Manchester area, Rashford joined United’s academy at the age of 7, despite strong interest from Everton and Liverpool.
Manchester United were plagued with 13 first-team injuries in the build-up to their crucial UEFA Europa League second-leg tie against FC Midtjylland in February 2016, and the youngster was handed his first-team debut.
Rashford scored an all-important brace in the match, making him Manchester United’s youngest European goalscorer.
The England international is now enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, with an involvement in 35 goals (20 goals, 15 assists) from 54 appearances across all competitions this season.
The 23-year-old has made 267 career appearances for his boyhood club, with an impressive tally of 87 goals and 56 assists.
Rashford enjoyed his best season on and off the pitch last year when he was named the 2020 England Footballer of the Year and received the title of “Member of the Order of the British Empire” for his extraordinary contribution to eradicating child poverty in the UK.
#1 Bruno Fernandes | £81 million
Bruno Fernandes has arguably been Premier League’s best player since his arrival in the 2019 winter transfer window.
The Portuguese ace almost single-handedly propelled Manchester United into the Premier League top 4 in the 2019-20 season with 20 goal involvements (12 goals, 8 assists) from just 22 appearances.
The 26-year-old only got better in his first full season at the club, procuring an output of 27 goals and 17 assists from 54 appearances across all competitions this season. His exceptional performances for Manchester United has also reflected on his market value, which has witnessed a £36.1 million increase over the past season.
The playmaker leads his Manchester United teammates in terms of goals and assists, with 16 goals and 11 assists from 33 Premier League appearances. He is placed third in the race for the PL Golden Boot and second on the assists chart.
