Transfer Window Ranking: Manchester United

With the transfer window slamming shut earlier this month, we’ve had time to sit back and analyse all the moves made by the top 6 Premier League teams in their attempt to boost their squad & challenge for honours.

Also read: Transfer Window Ranking: Chelsea

Here’s our ranking for Manchester United.

Arrivals:

• Tyrell Malacia (€15m)

• Christian Eriksen (Free)

• Lisandro Martinez (€57m)

• Casemiro (€70m)

• Antony (€95m)

• Martin Dubravka (Loan)

Departures:

• Paul Pogba (Free)

• Jesse Lingard (Free)

• Juan Mata (Free)

• Lee Grant (Free)

• Edinson Cavani (Free)

• Nemanja Matic (Free)

• Andreas Pereira (€9.50m)

Analysis:

The end of last season saw Manchester United make a clean break, release a lot of players and give the manager Ten Hag a clean slate to build his squad. To begin with, the outgoings were a great start to the window. None of these players performed well enough for the club to retain them and getting their wages off the bill was vital.

Objectively, the group of players who have come in are good players, but the context of their arrival is where the issue comes in. The lack of a strategy was apparent. The process to get to the end of the transfer window was a bumpy, unhappy ride. There was an evident reluctance to spend throughout the window before a bit of panic buying and spending too much in the end.

The Frenkie de Jong transfer debacle was apparent for the world to see, and two months in, when they finally gave up, there was a panic to sign a world-class midfielder. They signed Casemiro in the end, who is a brilliant player, but at the age and the contract he has been given, he could become another player with no resale value and one who they will have to pay till he’s 35.

Antony‘s signing was certainly an overpay in the end. No way should a player out of the Eredivisie who hasn’t scored 10 goals in a season be paid so much. Yet, ten Hag knows him, he was his first choice attacker and got the player he wanted. Now it is on the manager to make the player worth the money.

Lisandro Martinez, another player from Ajax, a player Ten Hag knows and has worked with joined the club. United did overpay for him, but again, the manager was clear about wanting him, and the player has performed well so far. He has slotted right in and looks like a good defender.

Tyrell Malacia was an excellent signing. A low-risk, high-potential player who has been spectacular so far. Tenacious and courageous, he has already established himself as the first-choice LB. Christian Eriksen, on a free transfer, can have no complaints. He adds much-needed depth to the midfield and can fill in at other positions.

Overall the players are good, and the manager has a squad that he could coach into a top 4 side. Yet the lack of strategy is evident, and the issues that have persisted in the upper management still exist.

Final Ranking: B-