The summer transfer window has finally shut. Manchester United’s summer business started strong, with the early arrivals of Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, and Andre Onana giving United fans hope that their club had turned a corner as far as transfers were concerned.
It’s been a big window for Erik ten Hag; allowing David de Gea to leave for free and identifying Mount as a priority signing reveals much about how the Dutchman wants United to play.
We’re three matches into the season and it remains to be seen how Ten Hag’s vision will translate to the pitch, but we can still take a look at United’s summer business and rate the club’s transfer window.
To start, here’s a breakdown of the player ins and outs at Old Trafford this summer:
Ins
- Rasmus Hojlund
- Mason Mount
- Andre Onana
- Altay Bayindir
- Sofyan Amrabat (loan w/buy option)
- Jonny Evans (free)
- Sergio Reguilon (loan)
Outs
- David de Gea
- Dean Henderson
- Fred
- Anthony Elanga
- Alex Telles
- Zidane Iqbal
- Matej Kover
- Phil Jones
- Axel Tuanzebe
- Teden Mengi
- Brandon Williams (loan w/buy option)
- Alvaro Fernandez (loan)
- Mason Greenwood (loan)
Mount’s arrival and subsequent place in the starting eleven alongside club captain Bruno Fernandes is a clear indication that Ten Hag plans to focus United’s activity higher up the pitch –both in attack and pressing the opposition. Mount’s tackles and interceptions in the last year or so compared to similar players is exactly what Ten Hag wants from his attacking players and he offers another creative outlet in the final third, which takes some of the burden off Bruno. United’s new bearer of the number seven shirt picked up an injury against Spurs in just the second match of the season, though, halting any bit of momentum or acclimation he had going. Ten Hag’s priority signing will hope to recover strong from this setback and United fans will hope the English midfielder lives up to his transfer fee and the shirt he now wears, as he has much more convincing to do.
Hojlund only joined Atalanta a year ago as a player for the future. He was fast-tracked into the starting eleven, though, as Duvan Zapata’s fitness and form faltered. Hojlund quickly turned heads with his pace, power, and positioning, quickly drawing outlandish media-fuelled comparisons to Erling Haaland. The Dane was carrying a back injury when United signed him, however, keeping him out of team training and the starting eleven until recently. It looks like Hojlund may be fit enough for involvement against Arsenal at the Emirates this weekend, giving United fans hope that they’ll finally get to see their newest striker in action. In a perfect world, a more experienced striker would have been signed in addition to Holjund, in order to take a bit of pressure off the young Dane’s shoulders and perhaps offer a different profile in attack. It seems the club was planning on Greenwood being part of the squad, though, which could be a big factor in United still being a bit thin up top heading into the season.
Perhaps the biggest move of the summer was replacing longtime servant De Gea with Onana. Not only did this signify a changing of the guard between the sticks for United, but Onana’s style of play presents a new direction for United tactically, as Ten Hag sees his keeper as another outfield player in many rights, not just a shot-stopper. It’s still taking a bit of time for Onana’s new teammates to get used to a more reliable distributor of the ball in goal, but Onana already looks like a leader at the back and United fans should be excited about this signing.
It’s difficult to know for sure what took so long for United to get Amrabat’s transfer over the line. We’ve seen United’s decision-makers drag their feet in the past, though, which forced the club to wait an extra year to sign Jadon Sancho and then overpay for Antony after waiting to sign him in August 2022, after ten Hag identified him in June that summer. Whether it was FFP or the board pinching pennies that caused the delay, United finally got their man, sealing a deadline day loan with an option to buy for the Moroccan. It’s a good thing Amrabat only had eyes for United, otherwise the embarrassing saga might have the club miss out on a quality midfielder.
With De Gea, Henderson, and Kovar leaving, as well as Onana’s impending AFCON absence after coming out of retirement for Cameroon, United also bought goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce to serve as backup for Onana. Former United defender Jonny Evans, who was given a temporary contract with United during pre-season, was also announced to be returning to the squad on a one-year contract.
Finally, long-term injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia saw United linked with pretty much every left-back alive as the club scrambled to bring in someone to fill in during this injury crisis. Spurs fullback–and former United target–Sergio Reguilon, signed a loan deal before the window closed, which also includes an option that allows United to cancel the loan in January without penalty. Deadline day also saw Mason Greenwood loaned to La Liga side, Getafe.
It isn’t just incoming signings that define a club’s transfer window, however; selling players signed by former United managers and who don’t fit into Ten Hag’s plans was a priority. More than a few eyebrows were raised by the number of young players walking out the door, but the sell-on clauses included in those deals means more funds from the future sales of players not deemed good enough by the manager.
Ten Hag will be frustrated, no doubt, at the club’s inability to offload players not in his plans. This includes high-earners such as Harry Maguire, as well as players who want to leave, like Donny van de Beek (there’s still time, though, if Galatasaray’s interest in the Dutch midfielder is strong). You can’t blame Ten Hag for the fact that Maguire’s reluctance to leave United might have prevented a new centre-back from joining; United’s negotiators are notoriously inept. It’s because of them United paid such a high fee for the English defender and it’s because of his high wages that other clubs can’t afford him. Add to this Raphael Varane’s latest injury setback and ten Hag may end up having to rely on a defender he doesn’t want and who doesn’t suit his style.
Let’s recap, shall we? United have an out-and-out number nine now, the midfield depth has improved, a modern goalkeeper takes charge between the sticks, and emergency left-back cover has been brought in to ensure United don’t fall behind in the early months of the season. A number of players have been shown the exit door and there’s still time for a few more sales. Whew. Like I said, it was a hectic window. Unfortunately, though, it was another window of United taking too long to bring in Amrabat, who, despite being identified as a target months ago, missed the first few matches of the season when he could have been a difference maker. Sound familiar? It was the same with Casemiro last summer and United suffered as a result. United know they can start planning for the transfer window before it opens, right? There was a time when United would prepare for the transfer window well in advance and get their business done early. It’s no coincidence that this has not been the case since Sir Alex retired and the individuals who now handle United’s negotiations have fumbled time and time again. What’s more frustrating is that, while Reguilon is an emergency signing, he was brought in very quickly when compared to how long it typically takes United to get a deal over the line. This just shows that United can get things done, but only when their hand is forced, i.e missing out on Champions League or an injury crisis leaves a hole in the squad.
I honestly believe United have strengthened the squad with the players they’ve signed, but taking too long to sign Amrabat while prioritising Mount, failing to offload unwanted senior players hurts United in the short-term and long-term, and the way the club fumbled the Greenwood situation after clearly planning to keep him at the club threw another spanner in the works, as far as transfer plans were concerned.
United struggling in the transfer market is disappointing, but at this point, it’s definitely not surprising. Taking into consideration the players United bought, the players they’ve sold, loans, emergency signings, and overall negotiation practices, I’m rating United’s transfer window 6 out of 10. Do you agree or disagree? Share your thoughts and your rating of United’s business this summer in the comments section.
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