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Nemanja Matic has completed his move to Old Trafford
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Manchester United legend Denis Irwin is expecting the Red Devils to finally challenge for the Premier League title again this season following another productive summer transfer window.
The signing of Nemanja Matic from Chelsea, confirmed on Monday, took United’s summer spending to around £145million, with Jose Mourinho strengthening his squad in key places ahead of the new campaign.
READ MORE: Nemanja Matic joins Manchester United from Chelsea on three-year contract
Matic’s arrival – alongside fellow summer signings Romelu Lukaku and defender Victor Lindelof – is a big boost for Mourinho’s plans at Old Trafford, having enjoyed success with the midfielder during his second spell as Chelsea.
But Irwin admitted his astonishment that Chelsea allowed one of their main first-team players to join a direct rival.
Speaking to talkSPORT host Jim White, Irwin – winner of seven Premier League titles with the Red Devils – said: “I was a little bit surprised by the fact Chelsea are selling to their rivals who will be challenging for the Premier league next year.
“But Matic has done a fantastic job for Chelsea over the last few years and I suppose it was a bit of a thank you [to let him join United].
“Manchester United have got a tremendous player, a tremendous holding player, and they’ve needed somebody of that ilk.
“I think it’s a very good signing.”
talkSPORT co-host and former Sunderland star Micky Gray believes Matic could be the final piece of the puzzle for Mourinho as he aims to forge a Man United side capable of winning top honours again.
And Irwin agrees, saying - following their latest bunch of summer signings - he expects the Red Devils to challenge for the Premier League title this season.
The Irishman added: “Since Jose has come to the club, the seven players they’ve signed a lot of them are tall, physical players – players you need for the Premier League. There’s a good mixture of youth and experience too.
“There’s great competition in the squad now, there’s a good mixture of midfielders and attackers and I think that the club will be close to challenging this year.
“They need to show more consistency and score more goals than last year, but they’re in a better position now to challenge with the squad they’ve got.
“Lukaku is a 25 goals-a-season striker, I expect Marcus [Rashford] to even better this year and I see [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan improving a lot as well, so I expect to see more goals.
“I expect them to challenge [for the title] this year.”
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