Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warned his Manchester United players other clubs will be looking to chase them next season.
The Red Devils will finish sixth if they fail to better Arsenal’s result on the final day of the 2018/19 campaign.
Solskjaer said: “You’ve got Leicester, Everton, Watford, probably Newcastle, you’ve got clubs that want to chase us. We have to make sure that we are the ones who chase those ahead of us.
“We have to make sure that we are getting closer and moving that way up the table and not looking over the shoulders because there are big clubs, good clubs wanting to chase that top six.”
So, who are the best players outside of the top six? talkSPORT take a look…
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Goalkeeper – Lukasz Fabianski (West Ham)
Fabianski has been an ever-present in Manuel Pellegrini’s side since signing from Swansea last summer. The 34-year-old has been the busiest goalkeeper in the Premier League this season, making 140 saves. He has proven himself as a reliable top-flight No.1 since leaving Arsenal in 2014.
Right-back – Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace)
Wan-Bissaka, who won Crystal Palace’s Player of the Year award, has been one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League this season.
Not many people would have blamed him for counting himself unlucky after being left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad in March.
His form has alerted the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City, however, the 21-year-old recently revealed he will be a Crystal Palace player next term.
Centre-back – Harry Maguire (Leicester)
Maguire was one of former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho’s transfer targets last summer.
The towering defender was able to take his 2018 World Cup form with England into this season – and has been a regular fixture at the back for Leicester. Maguire will be crucial to the Foxes’ chances of mounting a top-six push next season.
Centre-back – Conor Coady (Wolves)
The former Liverpool trainee has been one of Wolves’ standout players in their first season back in the Premier League.
Playing every single minute of the Premier League season so far, Coady has helped them to an impressive seventh-placed finish.
The club captain will be playing Europa League football next season if Manchester City beat Watford in this month’s FA Cup final. Surely an England call-up is on the horizon?
Left-back – Lucas Digne (Everton)
Digne has enjoyed a successful debut season in the Premier League, chipping in with four goals and assists each.
He has been part of a watertight Everton defence, which has kept eight clean sheets in ten games.
Only Liverpool (20), Manchester City (20) and Chelsea (15) have had more shutouts than Everton (14) this term.
Right-wing – Richarlison (Everton)
Similarly to his team-mate Digne, Richarlison has been one of Everton’s best players this term.
He has scored 14 goals since joining in a £50million deal from Watford last summer. The Brazil international has even been linked with a move to Barcelona following his goalscoring form. The 21-year-old will only get better with years to come.
Central midfield – Abdoulaye Doucoure (Watford)
Watford could find it hard to keep Doucoure this summer, especially after the Paris Saint-Germain target admitted he would leave Vicarage Road if the right club came calling.
He has had yet another fine season in the Premier League and is on course to help Watford finish in the top ten.
Central midfield – James Maddison (Leicester)
Signed for £22.5million from Norwich last year, that transfer fee seems like a bargain now. In his first season in the Premier League, Maddison has been directly involved in 14 goals, scoring and assisting seven each.
He has been deployed slightly deeper in midfield since Brendan Rodgers replaced Claude Puel in March, but has still been able to shine. He has been touted as a replacement for Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, who will join Juventus on July 1.
Left-wing – Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Zaha is having his most lethal top-flight season, netting ten goals for Roy Hodgson’s men.
He has been so crucial to Palace preserving their Premier League status over the past five years. Despite signing a new five-year contract last August, reports claim Arsenal are interested in the winger.
Striker – Raul Jimenez (Wolves)
Wolves paid Benfica £30million to make Jimenez’s loan move permanent last month.
The Mexico international has scored 17 goals and registered seven assists in all competitions. He has arguably been one of the signings of the season. Jimenez has also struck up a deadly strike partnership with Diogo Jota.
Striker – Jamie Vardy (Leicester)
Vardy has scored 18 goals in another prolific top-flight season for Leicester. At the age of 32, he is showing no signs of slowing down. He has netted 11 goals in his last 12 games in what has been an excellent end to the campaign.
