Manchester United fans were full of optimism a month ago heading into the pre-season tour. This giddy exuberance has now subsided.
What a time it was a month ago. Euro 2024 was coming to an end, and Manchester United fans expected transfer business to click into gear. And it did. United exploded into life, wrapping up a deal for Joshua Zirkzee, before beating Real Madrid to Leny Yoro. More smart business was expected to be concluded before the summer tour. But instead, nothing has been accomplished.
Now, with the 2024/25 kick-off rapidly approaching, the mood among the Manchester United fanbase is one of concern. Here is a drill-down into the issues causing worry…
Transfer business is not even half-done
Manchester United entered the window with a list of requirements. Four signings were needed at minimum, but really, for a team who finished in eighth last season, more substantial numbers were actually desired.
United have signed one centre-back. We have landed just one, who unfortunately is already injured, heightening the need for a second. It’s a necessity, not a luxury.
A full-back is needed, especially amid the news Tyrell Malacia faces another two months out.
In midfield, United are currently weaker, having lost Sofyan Amrabat. He might be brought back, but this decision is being left until other options are explored fully.
Really, United need two midfielders. One elite option, and another squad player.
And then we return to the striker position, with an issue highlighted by Rasmus Hojlund’s early injury.
Are two strikers really enough? And do Hojlund and Zirkzee have enough goals between them, for United to really put together a title-challenge, the standard the club aspire to?
More than half the transfer window has now passed, just three weeks remain. And in terms of incomings, United have accomplished 50 per cent of the minimum, and around 25 per cent of what would be ideal.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Too many expendable players still remain key
There is no doubt the core problem for United’s incomings is the outgoings, or the lack of them.
While the wage bill has been trimmed with Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial and Brandon Williams gone, and Donny van de Beek and Mason Greenwood have been sold, it’s not enough.
If United were being really ruthless, then the following players would all be sold too…
- Victor Lindelof
- Christian Eriksen
- Antony
- Hannibal
- Scott McTominay
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka
- Casemiro
The failure to shift any of these players, and you could throw in Harry Maguire too, is having a direct impact on United’s inability to bring in new faces.
The current struggle to sign Manuel Ugarte can be tied to Casemiro staying, while Noussair Mazraoui’s deal is on hold until Aaron Wan-Bissaka is moved on.
There is more than £100 million worth of players the list above, however, sales are not so simple when the players are on high-wages, and an over-estimated sense of importance.
As it stands, United face being stuck with at least half of these players, while some of them could even be in the starting line-up to begin the season.
It is a frustrating situation, highlighting why change at Manchester United will take multiple transfer windows to execute, as some of these deals may simply have to be allowed to run down.
- READ MORE: Manchester United Player Wages 2023/24
The starting team is under-cooked
United’s two new signings are not ready to make an instant impact. Leny Yoro’s injury will keep him out for three months, while Joshua Zirkzee has only just returned to Carrington and has not kicked a ball in pre-season.
The Community Shield takes place this weekend, and Premier League season days later, and many of United’s key players have only just returned to pre-season due to involvement at the Euros and Copa America.
Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and Alejandro Garnacho have only just returned along with Zirkzee.
You would expect most of these players to be in the starting line-up to begin the season, but how wise is this?
They may be lacking fitness, sharpness, and more prone to injury. United feel under-prepared heading into the season.
Yoro and Zirkzee have effectively replaced Varane and Martial, so in this regard, United have done the minimum. Not enough has been done to raise the bar, and take a leap forward.
On top of this, last season’s top scorer Rasmus Hojlund will miss the opening three games of the season due to injury.
There are positives, of course, with Amad looking like a new player, Jadon Sancho making a surprise return, and Marcus Rashford and Mason Mount showing signs of sharpness as they look to bounce back from difficult seasons.
Youngsters Harry Amass and Toby Collyer may even have a role to play. But this isn’t something United should rely on.
A long season lies ahead, and as it stands, Manchester United feel under-prepared, and at risk of being undone by more injuries, with a squad which has not discernibly improved on last season.
There is still time for Ineos to change all this. The narrative could shift in days, if a couple of transfer deals are swiftly concluded. But we have been waiting for this breakthrough for a fortnight now.
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