Come on in and join the club! Get our daily Manchester United email newsletter Sign me up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Michael Carrick insists Manchester United have the squad to claim a 21st league title this season.

United have not finished higher than fourth since Sir Alex Ferguson signed off with the club's 20th title back in 2013.

But veteran midfielder Carrick believes the appointment of Jose Mourinho , and the key signings he has made this summer, means United can once again be considered title favourites.

“It's what we have to go for,” said Carrick. “The only option we have got is to set out to win things.

“We must believe we have a chance – and we certainly have. It's a long season but, at the end, we want to be sitting top of the table.

(Image: Michael Regan - The FA/Getty)

“This year it [the title race] does seem close. The fact there's been managerial changes at three of the top clubs means it's going to be interesting to see how it pans out.

“We've got as good a chance as anyone.”

United have signed world record signing Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly this summer, with Southampton's Jose Fonte another target before deadline day.

Against that backdrop of strengthening in key areas with players of proven stature and potential, Carrick believes United have a squad capable of challenging for the key prizes this term.

“It's certainly been a good window with the four top players coming in,” said Carrick. “I think they're all going to add hugely to the squad.

“For me, the key thing is it's done and dusted now and there's not going to be all that speculation all the way up until the deadline.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters) (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

“Our main targets are in, it seems, and we're a squad now. This is what we're going to go forward achieving things with.”

Carrick, speaking to United Review, singled out Pogba and Ibrahimovic as the two players who can give Mourinho's side the edge this season.

“They're world-class players who are going to bring that confidence you need to play here and achieve things,” said Carrick.

“It's what we've had for many years, that confidence to go into games knowing the end goal is to win trophies. They've managed to do that themselves, and it can rub off on the younger boys.”