Michael Owen has called on Manchester United to strengthen their attack in the coming years, insisting Benjamin Šeško is not the long-term solution to lead the line.

United invested £74 million to sign the Slovenian striker from RB Leipzig last summer, bringing him in as a replacement for Rasmus Højlund, who departed for Napoli. The move was seen as a major step toward solving the club’s issues up front.

However, Šeško struggled to make an immediate impact, managing just two goals in the first half of the campaign while playing under former boss Rúben Amorim.

His form has improved significantly since Michael Carrick took charge on an interim basis, with the 22-year-old netting eight times in his last 11 appearances and helping United climb to third in the Premier League table.

Despite that upturn, Owen remains unconvinced about the striker’s long-term role. He acknowledged that Šeško has shown improvement and regained confidence, but suggested United would still need a higher-level centre-forward if they want to compete for major honours again. In his view, the forward can be a useful part of the squad, contributing goals and adding depth, but not necessarily the player to build a title challenge around. He also hinted that in a must-win, high-stakes match, Šeško might not be the automatic choice to start.

Owen believes there is room for an upgrade in the near future, stressing that while the youngster is now playing with more belief and becoming an asset again, there is still a considerable gap between his current level and what is required to lead a club like Manchester United back to the top.

The former England striker also weighed in on the managerial situation at Old Trafford, strongly backing Carrick to be given the job on a permanent basis. He expressed surprise that there is even debate around the decision, arguing that the team’s current trajectory under Carrick should be enough to justify continuity.

According to Owen, replacing Carrick now would be a major risk, especially given the club’s turbulent history since the departure of Alex Ferguson. He pointed out that United have already experimented with a wide range of managerial profiles — from experienced winners like Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho, to former players such as Ole Gunnar Solskjær, as well as more unconventional appointments like Ralf Rangnick and Amorim.

He argued that after years of inconsistency, United may have finally found a coach who is getting the best out of the squad. The team is winning games, performances are improving, and several players are showing their best form in years. For Owen, that progress should not be disrupted.

He suggested a short-term deal could be a sensible approach, allowing the club to continue building momentum while keeping flexibility for the future. In his view, there is little downside to backing Carrick now, especially given the current positive trend.

United’s recent 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth may have slowed their momentum slightly, but they remain third in the league and firmly in contention for a Champions League place — a position that reflects the progress made in recent months.

Jürgen Klopp could be edging closer to a dramatic return to management, with both Real Madrid and the Germany national football team emerging as potential destinations.

The 58-year-old has been out of the dugout since May 2024, bringing an end to a hugely successful nine-year spell at Liverpool, where he stepped away due to exhaustion. He later took up a new role in January 2025 as Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull, overseeing the company’s network of football clubs.

Despite settling into an executive position, Klopp has now hinted that his managerial career may not be over just yet. Speaking at a recent event, he made it clear that while he is not actively planning a comeback, he still feels he has more to give on the touchline.

He suggested that although he is at a later stage in life, he does not see himself as fully retired from coaching, leaving the door open for a possible return in the coming years.

Reports, including from transfer insider Florian Plettenberg, claim Klopp would be particularly interested in taking charge of either Real Madrid or Germany if the right opportunity arises.

Madrid’s situation remains uncertain after Álvaro Arbeloa was appointed earlier this year following the departure of Xabi Alonso. While Arbeloa has stepped in, the Spanish giants are expected to pursue a long-term solution in the summer — and Klopp is reportedly high on their shortlist.

However, Klopp himself has played down the speculation. At the same event, he dismissed claims of contact from Madrid, saying the club has never approached him and jokingly added that he might as well manage Atlético Madrid at the same time — if anyone actually makes the call.

As for the German national team, Julian Nagelsmann remains in charge and is set to lead the side into the upcoming World Cup. With his contract running until 2028, there is currently no immediate indication of a change unless circumstances shift or Nagelsmann decides to move on, especially amid reported interest from clubs like Manchester United.

For now, Klopp’s return remains a possibility rather than a plan — but his comments have certainly reignited excitement about seeing one of football’s most charismatic managers back on the sidelines.

A unique set of results in both European competitions and the Premier League could open the door for as many as seven English clubs to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Traditionally, the top four teams in the league secure automatic qualification. However, UEFA’s European Performance Spots system is set to award an additional place to the two best-performing leagues across the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. With English clubs performing strongly and the league currently leading UEFA’s coefficient rankings, a fifth Champions League spot already looks almost certain.

As things stand, that would mean teams like Arsenal FC, Manchester City FC, Manchester United FC, Aston Villa FC, and Liverpool FC would all be in line to feature in Europe’s top competition next season.

But an even more unusual scenario could push that number to seven. This would depend heavily on how English clubs perform in Europe. If either Arsenal or Liverpool were to win the Champions League, they would automatically qualify for next season’s competition regardless of their league position. Arsenal are currently leading the table and look secure, but Liverpool, who are hovering around fifth, could benefit significantly from such a win.

At the same time, Aston Villa FC remain in contention to win the UEFA Europa League, which also grants automatic Champions League qualification. If Villa were to finish outside the top four — for example in fifth or sixth — and still win the Europa League, they would also secure a place.

In that situation, England could already have six teams qualified without even using the extra European Performance Spot typically awarded to the fifth-placed side. UEFA has confirmed that in such a case, the additional slot would then pass down to the next team in the league table — meaning even the team finishing seventh could qualify.

For this to happen, another club would need to break into the top four and push Villa down the standings. Chelsea FC are currently the most realistic challengers, sitting within reach despite inconsistent form. Everton FC and Brentford FC are also mathematically in the race, though they would need a remarkable run of results in the final stretch of the season.

While the scenario remains unlikely, it highlights just how dominant English clubs have been in Europe — and how an extraordinary chain of results could lead to a record-breaking number of Premier League teams in the Champions League.