Is David De Gea the only world-class player at Manchester United? Football Whispers investigates how good their squad really is

FORMER Manchester United defender-turned-pundit Gary Neville has never been short of an opinion.

When Neville speaks, the football world sits up to take notice.

Most recently, the former England full-back claimed David de Gea was Manchester United’s only world-class player.

Quite the statement for a side who sit second in the Premier League table.

Currently fighting with Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea for a place in next season’s Champions League group stage, someone is going to miss out.

But Jose Mourinho, with his team having conceded just 20 goals this season, will be confident of fighting off the challengers from below to finish in the Premier League’s top four.

So is Neville right? We asked our friends at Football Whispers to scrutinise his claims and wonder who else could be classed at the same level.

He told Goal: "De Gea's the only player Manchester United have got at this moment in time that I would say has performed for the club at a world-class level.

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“But to me De Gea is their stand-out player in terms of world standard at the club without a shadow of a doubt.

"You could maybe say Sanchez, but not at Manchester United yet, even if he has been at a level for the last five or six years that you would say is world class."

Although they are 13 points behind Manchester City – having played a game more – it seems ludicrous to suggest the team sitting second in the Premier League have just one top-class performer. But performances don’t lie.

Analysing their numbers under Mourinho, it's hard to argue against the former United captain.

Although United have the joint best defensive record in the Premier League, their xGA (Expected Goals Against) is up at 33.43.

Opponents are creating chances, and without their elite goalkeeper United would have conceded a lot more this term and it’s fair to say they would not be in same position without him.

He may be getting paid a reported £500,000-per-week, but Alexis Sanchez has failed to make an instant impact since arriving at Old Trafford. But he did show signs of being world class at Arsenal.

If the Chilean can get back to a level where he is scoring 20 goals a season, there’s no doubt he would be added to the conversation.

Another contender is £89m man Paul Pogba.

But the French midfielder has struggled to find his place in Mourinho’s midfield since his 2016 move from Juventus.

At times, playing on the break, he was the driving force behind their early success.

But when asked to play 4-2-3-1, he’s looked defensively vulnerable and has been dropped of late.

Romelu Lukaku is on course to net 20 Premier League this term.

But the Belgian forward needs to consistently impact the big games before he can even be considered world-class – despite his goal against old side Chelsea on Sunday.

United are not without a number of impressive players – Nemanja Matic, Antonio Valencia, Juan Mata and Eric Bailly to name a few – but they are not at the level needed to be labelled as elite.

One of the biggest indicators is the level of team who would be interested in signing United's players.

De Gea has long been a Real Madrid transfer target. But no-one is banging down Jose’s door for Mata or Valencia.

In a few years time, young stars like Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Pogba and Bailly all have the potential to reach the standard required to be considered the best in their role.

Given time to develop, they are all special talents and could turn into world-beaters.

However, right now, only United’s No.1 can claim to be one of the best players in his position.

He is arguably the best goalkeeper in the modern game, and that’s what makes him world-class.