Manchester United dominated the football landscape under the baton of legendary manager Ferguson, who led them to conquer 13 titles and two Champions Leagues, including a historic treble in 1999. Maintaining such a high level was always going to be difficult.

However, the Red Devils have suffered a humiliating fall from grace. Big names like Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have not managed to return the Red Devils to the summit, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been unable to replicate the success of his playing days. Michael Carrick is now the one in charge of making decisions on an interim basis.

He has managed an unbeaten run of six games, with five wins, and optimism is growing again regarding a brighter future. Ambitious targets have been set to reclaim the Premier League title in 2028.

When asked if that could be considered realistic and how far United are from completing their transformation from aspirant to contender, former Red Devils star Sharpe, speaking to BetBrain, said: "I don't think they are that far away. They've shown it since Michael Carrick came in.

They've beaten a couple of top-line teams. Against Everton, they put in a very solid performance, although it wasn't a great attacking and passing display; they didn't look too skillful, but they showed a team spirit and fight that probably would have folded a couple of months ago. They ground out a very difficult result.

They are doing a good job. They are only a couple of points off third place and not far off the top two. If we look back over the season and see the points they've dropped, they could be much closer. I think with three or four quality signings in the summer, and as long as there is consistency and hard work, I don't think they are that far away."

That is an opinion shared by another former United star who won the Premier League, Michael Owen. When asked a similar question, he replied: "They probably still need one or two players. And if they lose Casemiro and maybe even Fernandes, those are two really important players. There's the whole balance of reducing the average age, etc. It's incredible.

I've said it to a lot of people: Manchester United, even when they were in a low period, will turn a corner and, once they do, it might take another year, it might take two months, but someone will get it done. They are too powerful a team to keep underperforming and, when they turn the corner, they will gain unprecedented momentum. That could happen.

People think they are a long way off, but if they keep doing what they're doing and have a good summer, they might not be that far away and it might only take them one or two years to win the league, instead of five, six or seven, as some predict.

"Right now it's fascinating. As long as they have the momentum, I would advise them to keep going. Do they want to change the manager and things like that now? Wow, they're looking for trouble after all these years."

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