UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov declares Manchester United will be a "big problem" for their Premier League rivals once their newer players have fully adapted to their surroundings.
The former lightweight champion, 33, believes it has been difficult for the likes of Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo to "connect" with their teammates after arriving for a combined sum of £133million last summer.
United have certainly looked short of fluency and understanding between players in recent fixtures, failing to win any of their last three games.
But Khabib - who met Sir Alex Ferguson while attending the match against Everton in October - expects there will be a significant upturn in form next campaign, by which time last year's arrivals will have a full pre-season under their belt.
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"They have a very good, strong team, a young team," the Russian Red Devils fan told Sky Sports of United. "I think next year they are going to do a very good job.
"Next year, because right now [there are] so many new players, they don't connect well. But I think next year Manchester United are going to be a big problem for all clubs."
Although Khabib is confident United will improve drastically next season, the club are likely to remain in a period of transition after appointing their next permanent boss.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick is set to leave the dugout to take up a consultancy role behind the scenes at Old Trafford this summer.
Paris Saint-Germain's Mauricio Pochettino, Ajax's Erik ten Hag and Spain's Luis Enrique are among the names being considered to succeed Rangnick.
In the meantime, the German must focus on improving United's tepid form, starting with a positive result against Brighton on Tuesday night.
The Red Devils have squandered slender leads to draw their last three fixtures 1-1, and Rangnick has called on his players to show more cutting edge to "kill the game off".
"Number one is we have to be more effective to score a second and third goal and just kill the game off. This is number one," Rangnick told reporters on Monday.
"We create enough chances to do that. But even if this does not happen, just stick to the game-plan, stay solid and tactically disciplined.
"This is the other issue that we have to achieve, and this what I mean by taking the next step."
Following their clash with Brighton, Manchester United travel to rivals Leeds on Sunday afternoon before facing Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie three days later.
