Sir Jim Ratcliffe sets ambitious Man Utd target that has only happened FIVE times in history

Manchester United languish in 16th spot in the Premier League – and that could get worse – but the club’s hierarchy believe a jump back into the top six is achievable next season

Manchester United’s hierarchy want to become a top six side next season. That is despite them currently sitting 16th in the Premier League with two games of the season remaining.

Defeat by West Ham at the weekend saw them slide further down the table, but that hasn’t stopped Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co from backing the club to rise up the places next term, reports the MEN. A top six finish would be good enough for European football, but it would also represent one of the rarest revivals in Premier League history.

United finished eighth last season but have surpassed that this term for all the wrong reasons. Ruben Amorim, whose future beyond this season remains up for debate, claimed that he was presiding over “maybe the worst Manchester United team in history” only months ago.

The Red Devils sit a point behind West Ham in 15th, but are in the midst of a run that has seen them draw two and lose five of their last seven games. Tottenham could yet leapfrog the Manchester outfit, painting an even more bleak picture of the season.

Recoveries following a strong summer transfer window and a positive pre-season are not unheard of. But to rise 10 places, which is what the Manchester bosses are eyeing, is something that is achieved once in a blue moon.

READ MORE: Roy Keane points finger of blame over Man Utd star’s exit – ‘It tarnished him’READ MORE: Man Utd to have BARBECUE instead of parade if they beat Spurs in Europa League final

In fact, in a 20-team Premier League, only FIVE times has a team jumped up 10 places or more the following season. One of those was the miracle of Leicester City – going from 14th after staving off relegation to become champions in a 5000/1 success. The type of story that truly is once in a lifetime.

Ignoring that only four teams have made the type of leap they are seeking on the red half of Manchester – and none of those have been what you would have called traditional ‘top six’ sides. When they fall, it takes a lot longer for them to recover.

Everton in 2004/05 went from 17th spot the previous year to register a top four finish in what was a stunning job by David Moyes. They held off Liverpool’s charge to pip their Merseyside rivals to the Champions League – and all after losing Wayne Rooney to Manchester.

A year earlier and Aston Villa were celebrating finishing sixth after meandering down in 16th the previous season. That owed to a managerial change with David O’Leary coming in to replace Graham Taylor. That was an example of a new manager bounce really lifting a club as they landed UEFA Cup – now Europa League – qualification.

Fulham were another side to benefit from a proper transfer window and a pre-season under Roy Hodgson in 2008. The veteran manager had narrowly dodged relegation to finish 17th, but in his first full season took the Cottagers all the way to the lofty heights of seventh – which allowed them to embark on their journey to the Europa League final the following campaign.

In more recent years West Ham managed to leap up 10 places and finished sixth in 2020/21 having been 16th the year before. Much like the aforementioned Fulham situation, the Hammers had change the manager the year prior, bringing in Moyes. As like Hodgson, Moyes was able to turnaround the club’s fortunes after a proper pre-season and the chance to bring in his own players.

It’s worth noting that Nottingham Forest, once this season finishes, will have also made a leap of more than 10 places under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Amorim bucking the trend – and not in a good way

Of all the revival stories mentioned above there is a common theme. Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Fulham all changed their manager six months before embarking on impressive campaigns. Amorim arrived at around a similar time to the likes of Nuno, Moyes and Hodgson.

But whilst they showed signs of promise, fending off the threat of relegation, Amorim has only served to take the Manchester outfit in the wrong direction. In the case of Leicester and Aston Villa, they changed managers in the summer and had an instant return.

United’s power brokers genuinely believe a top six finish is an acceptable aim for next season, but Premier League history suggests its a tall order and the direction of travel under Amorim would make finishing sixth once of the great recoveries.

Worth noting also that, whilst United have never been this low in the Premier League, their biggest ever jump is from seventh to fourth. When you look at the club’s entire history, not since 1964 has the club jumped ten spots in the league, and that needed the brilliance of Sir Matt Busby to be achieved.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.