The transfer window and the narratives in it are always interlinked because one depends on the other, and for Manchester United, Chelsea have done them a favour.
The Glazer era contracts have made a difficult rebuilding job borderline impossible, but the early signs have been good enough.
The “United tax” is a phenomenon that Man Utd are determined to completely shake off this summer, having walked away from Jarrad Branthwaite last summer.
Fortunately, Chelsea’s £60m swoop should calm down some nerves because it proves that United have already made the best signing of this window, and there’s more to come.
Chelsea’s £60m swoop and ramifications for Man Utd
So far, the only confirmed signing Man Utd have made is that of Matheus Cunha, triggering his release clause worth £62.5m from Wolves.
They will probably breach that figure and make Bryan Mbeumo the record transfer under Ineos, and the talks will begin about how Brentford have taken United for a ride.
However, between these two players, 35 Premier League goals were scored last season. For all the talk about how United aren’t very good at negotiating, Chelsea’s latest signing offers perspective.
Cunha scored 15 league goals last season, Mbeumo scored 20, and Joao Pedro, who scored 10, and has 22 goals in total in 89 Premier League appearances, has just gone to Chelsea for nearly £60m.
Pedro has an age advantage of two or three years over Mbeumo and Cunha, but with Chelsea already having Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson, and Christopher Nkunku in their ranks, it remains to be seen how involved Pedro is.
United won’t care much about that because as soon as the fee for Pedro was revealed, it became clear that Cunha is the best signing of the transfer window so far.
Delap was arguably a bigger bargain, but in terms of pure player quality at present, Cunha stands tall.
In fact, spending more on Mbeumo won’t even be a deterrent, since he scored more than Cunha and is more versatile. So if anyone is taking that honour from Cunha, it will be United’s second signing.
Joao Pedro transfer should help Man Utd
Pedro’s sale doesn’t just make United look good in their transfer market buying, but it also helps them in selling their players.
Bynoe-Gittens’ move to Chelsea has already done that for them once, and now Pedro strengthens their hand further.
Pedro going for £60m should have a direct impact on when Premier League clubs come asking for Alejandro Garnacho.
Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are unlikely to see a difference because of the wages they earn, but United should absolutely be in a position to ask for £60m for Garnacho now.
Despite being younger than Pedro, Garnacho is more proven in the league. Even taking into account how he’s burned all bridges with United, offers of less than £50m should be rejected out of hand.
With Pedro’s sale, Chelsea have given Brighton nearly £300m in the last three years. United’s benefit is less monetary, but matters for optics all the same.
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