Harry Styles can be Manchester United’s Taylor Swift – and can make them millions

Man United have been criticised in recent weeks for being late to the party on marketing trends but they have been presented with the opportunity to take the lead thanks to the former One Direction man.

Manchester United’s marketing department are facing one of their biggest challenges in decades following the Reds’ dip in prominence since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.

I am 25 years old and growing up in Derbyshire every primary and secondary school year group had a handful of United fans in it despite being surrounded by a smorgasbord of Football League and at times Premier League clubs. Why was this? Well, it was thanks to the legacy of dominance Ferguson had presided over.

United were the team to beat and kids found this appealing. Returning to my old primary school a couple of months ago though, it was interesting to see how times have changed.

Now, youngsters are choosing Manchester City as their club of choice thanks to the Blues’ star quality of Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish. Children are fickle and it no longer matters who their parents support, they are going to follow the glory.

But it is not just in British playgrounds where the battle is being lost. The game is more global than ever before and United still want to be a huge presence in the United States – hence the pre-season tour of America.

However, the Reds are beginning to be left behind thanks to their lack of success on the pitch. Once again City remain an important figure Stateside as well as Liverpool thanks to their sporting prowess but there is another way to capture that market, using the glitz and glammer of celebrities.