Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United remain in the 2016-17 Premier League title hunt, but expects them to launch a greater challenge for silverware next season.
The Red Devils are in the process of undertaking another rebuild, following the summer arrival of Jose Mourinho at the helm.
Stability has been in short supply since Sir Alex Ferguson vacated the Old Trafford hot-seat, with the baton having been passed from David Moyes to Louis van Gaal via Ryan Giggs.
Mou: Man Utd better than fourth
Mourinho is now leading the charge, and has seen fortunes improve over recent weeks.
Following a frustrating period in which too many points slipped through United’s grasp, they have collected three successive Premier League wins.
They are now back in the hunt for a top-four finish, with only four points separating them from the Champions League spots.
Mourinho’s men are still 13 points adrift of table-topping Chelsea, but Ferdinand believes that lead can be cut and that United will be a stronger force with two more transfer windows behind them in 2017-18.
He told the club’s official website: "I think next season will be the more important one for United. They’ve spent big this summer and they’ll probably reinvest again next summer and go again the following season.
“This season, though, any one of six teams is capable of winning the league and United are in that mix. We need to keep being consistent and keep up a run of games where we build up confidence and get points on the board."
United will wrap up 2016 with back-to-back home dates against Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
The new year will then bring a Premier League clash with West Ham and meetings with Reading and Hull City in FA Cup and EFL Cup competition, before attention turns to a potentially decisive fixture with Liverpool on January 15.
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