After two months of back and forth, negotiations dragging, pivoting, and returning, the summer transfer window is finally closed.
It was the first transfer window since Ineos took charge of Manchester United‘s sporting affairs, so it has given a good idea about their ambitions for the club.
Four players were signed quickly, and then a fifth arrived after making some good sales, something that hasn’t happened often at Old Trafford.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Here are the top five things we learned from Manchester United’s first transfer window after Sir Jim Ratcliffe announced his intention to prep a “best-in-class” team-
‘United tax’ is getting tackled
United set the tone for their window by pouncing on Joshua Zirkzee’s low release clause, making a deal at a price that wouldn’t even have been imaginable had the clause not existed.
It was in direct contrast to Ed Woodward’s first transfer window, where Marouane Fellaini was brought for more than his release clause after they let it expire earlier in the window.
“Begin as you mean to go along”, they say. With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that both ownership regimes’ beginning was a sign of things to come.
They did the deal for Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt on their terms, a solution in the middle was reached for Manuel Ugarte, and they didn’t hesitate to blow rivals out of the water for Leny Yoro.
In walking away from Jarrad Branthwaite, United made the biggest statement of all- days of ‘United tax’ are over.
A long overdue clearout
Just as important as getting the signings in, or arguably more, was getting the sales right. Even though the likes of Chelsea or Manchester City spend more than United, they always manage to remain in the green because of how good they are at selling.
Dan James was one of the top-five biggest Manchester United sales of all time at the start of the window, which is a remarkable statement to say.
By the end of the window, Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood had entered the list, while an abundance of young players who would never be good enough to crash United’s first team had been let go with sell-on and buy-back clauses.
In previous years, maybe a player like McTominay would receive a contract extension to “protect his value” while United get plunged deeper into the PSR hole.
Not anymore. A long overdue clearout which has netted Man United more than £100 million in sales has been a breath of fresh air.
The philosophy and vision is clear
Of all the summer signings, Noussair Mazraoui is the oldest player, at just 26. There has been a concerted effort at freshening up the team by creating a youthful spine that can grow together into a world-class squad.
The club’s single-minded effort to get Yoro was the prime example of this, as it’s not a signing that many would expect United to compete for under the Glazers.
Speaking of such players, Sekou Kone, the 18-year-old Malian midfielder is exactly the kind of player Glazers would have scoffed at (Remember Independiente del Valle’s Moises Caicedo, anyone?).
Add to that the signings of Samuel Lusale and Chido Obi-Martin, and the philosophy and vision are clear. Ineos are building a team for the future, that can compete in the present.
Erik ten Hag’s falling influence narrative was exaggerated
When Ten Hag signed a new contract, it was widely expected that he would just become a “head coach”, tasked with managing the players the club signs for him.
However, after this window, it is clear that Ineos don’t intend to become autocratic owners who order their managers around.
That model rarely works because ultimately, the manager is in charge of picking the players on a matchday. One look at the signings makes it clear that Ten Hag still retains major influence over the process of transfers. The only difference is that earlier, he seemed like he was the whole process.
Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui are straight from his Ajax school of players, while Leny Yoro also seems to have taken his fancy. Zirkzee has started well and Ten Hag has waxed lyrical about his skill set, while Manuel Ugarte is a long overdue young No. 6.
The reports of Ten Hag’s influence at the club collapsing were greatly exaggerated.
No excuses for the sporting personnel
It has been more than a decade since we were in a position to say this but after the end of the transfer window, it’s clear the ownership has done its job and there are no excuses for the sporting personnel- staff and players.
Before Ineos, managers used to spend the whole window complaining or adjusting to the Glazers’ incompetency in the market, when the players either arrived late, didn’t arrive at all, or the manager had to do the heavy lifting in that department.
At the end of this window, the holes in the squad have been filled, players are young, hungry, arrived in time for the action, and fit a vision for the team.
Ten Hag and his players will be given time to gel and get the machine humming, but there can no longer by any complaining about the parts.
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