United’s Transfer Woes Continue
The countdown is on to the 22/23 season and with every passing day, the question remains in the minds of Manchester United fans around the world, “where are the signings?”
Last season saw United endure their worst ever campaign in Premier League history. They finished in sixth place with 56 points and a goal difference of zero. It was yet another trophyless season for the Mancunians; making it their fifth consecutive season in a row where they failed to win any silverware. The club’s worst trophy drought in 40 years.
Their record against the top two teams, who also just happen to be United’s two biggest rivals, was zero points out of 12 and a goal difference of -14. This is what you would expect from a team like Norwich City, who sat rock bottom at the table, not a juggernaut like Man United.
The Red Devils also failed to gain wins against relegation strugglers, Everton and Watford. To add insult to injury, they were knocked out by Middlesborough at home in the third round of the FA Cup.
This is all mind-numbingly shocking especially when you realise that United have spent a whopping £1.55 billion in 10 years. Yet, they are still light-years away from competing for the Premier League title as serious, noteworthy contenders.
So far this summer there has been somewhat of an exodus at Old Trafford. Even though United splashed a combined total of £166.1 million on Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matić, and Juan Mata, they all left on a free. Yet another example of Glazernomics at its finest.
Edinson Cavani, Lee Grant, and Jesse Lingard have also departed from the club. Dean Henderson has now been added to that list as he heads to newly promoted Nottingham Forest on loan.
So, where are the signings? Who will be joining United this summer? These are the million-dollar questions. Ones which need to be answered thick and fast with the new season just around the corner.
You would have thought that United would be desperate to get their house in order after the calamitous season they had, one which had embarrassment written all over it in big bold letters. However, it does not seem like they are too bothered and are moving at a snail’s pace trying to sign players.
Everywhere you look, United’s rivals are getting their business done swiftly. They all know how crucial this coming season will be.
The champions, Man City, have signed Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for £51.2 million and Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United for roughly £45 million.
Liverpool, the runners-up, bought Darwin Núñez from Benfica for a club-transfer record fee of £85 million.
Tottenham have acquired Yves Bissouma for £25 million from Brighton along with both Ivan Perišić and Fraser Forster on free transfers.
Arsenal have bolstered their midfield and attack with the signings of Fabio Vieira from Porto for £34 million and Marquinhos from São Paulo. They are now reportedly on the verge of signing Gabriel Jesus from City for £45 million.
Even Aston Villa, who finished 14th last year, have done far more than United! They have so far spent a combined total of £46 million on Diego Carlos, Philippe Coutinho, and Robin Olsen. The Villains also signed Boubacar Kamara, who was linked to United in January, on a free.
Man United, meanwhile, have spent what feels like an eternity trying to convince Frenkie de Jong to join them.
However, de Jong has already indicated that he is not interested in leaving the Camp Nou for Old Trafford. So, why are United still trying to convince him to join them? It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
It’s like trying to convince a beautiful woman at a nightclub to go out with you. She either does or does not. If she does, excellent. If not, then hard luck. Move on. There are plenty of fish in the sea. Likewise, there are plenty of top-class players United can sign, especially for affordable prices.
Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Ibrahim Sangaré, Denzel Dumfries, and Christian Eriksen are five excellent players who can make a monumental difference to this United team. If United were serious, they would have signed at least three of them already. But that clearly is not the case.
There have been a lot of changes at the board level at Old Trafford. Matt Judge, Ed Woodward, and Marcel Bout have gone out the door. Their replacements are Richard Arnold, John Murtough, Andy O’Boyle, and Darren Fletcher.
The changes were desperately needed. Words cannot eloquently describe just how incompetent Woodward and Judge were. Their recruitment was beyond abysmal. However, their successors have given fans very few reasons to be optimistic.
If you want to have the best wine, you need to have the best grapes. If United want to be the best, they will firstly need to have the best-in-class footballing people in the board. Instead, they have bankers, subservient yes men to the Glazers, and rookies. Long story short, they have people who are out of their depth.
Their intentions may be good as opposed to their predecessors, as seen by the leaked video of Arnold speaking with United fans at a Manchester pub. But their credentials are non-existent.
Men like Ralf Ragnick, Paul Mitchell, and Edwin van der Sar would have done wonders for Erik ten Hag. Together, they would have helped rebuild United into a team that could potentially compete for the title and win trophies. But it is yet another case of missed opportunities.
The season is less than three weeks away. Most of United’s rivals have strengthened. Newcastle will certainly be in the mix now that they have Arab owners who can write umpteen blank cheques. There is no guarantee that United will even be a top six club next season.
Unless United get a move on and make the right signings, failure will once again be the end result. Those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
