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It has been yet another difficult summer for Manchester United in the transfer market. It's a case of deja vu for Manchester United fans since the club has been linked with moves for some of the biggest players in Europe but none of them have actually come to fruition.
Manchester United fans have been left frustrated, as the club has become the punchline to many jokes made by the fans of United's rivals. Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and even Everton, have all made big-name signings, or signings that would vastly improve their squad, this summer.
Arsenal has signed six players this summer, with a budget of €40 million, strengthening in attack and defense. Tottenham Hotspur, whose summer mirrored that of United's, in that Spurs failed to make any notable signings, are about to complete a massive double swoop for Real Madrid duo, Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon.
Liverpool have not really needed to make any additions to a squad that won the Premier League with 99 points. However, Liverpool have reportedly signed Thiago this week, another player that Manchester United were linked with.
Cross-town rivals Manchester City, have signed players who will fill gaps in the squad. Ferran Torres would replace Leroy Sane, and Nathan Ake, would replace Vincent Kompany in defense. Manchester City, with all their money and financial backing, have been smart and made only necessary signings this window.
The performance of Chelsea, a team that finished level on points with United, but behind on goal-difference, in the transfer market, has not only shocked the rest of the Premier League, but also left Manchester United fans red-faced. Chelsea's performance in the transfer market, has made them genuine title contenders this season.
With 2 weeks to go in the transfer market, Manchester United fans, will be hoping for some good news, but will be wary of having any sort of expectations.
On that note , let's take a look at:
5 reasons why Manchester United have failed in the transfer market this summer
#5 Chasing the wrong players
Manchester United have always made it a habit of chasing players who are almost unattainable. The Red Devils have spent half a decade chasing the likes of Gareth Bale, Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Muller, Cesc Fabregas and more, who are either too expensive, or have no desire to leave their clubs.
Manchester United, have managed to find another such player in Jadon Sancho. Although Sancho has made clear his desire to move back to the Premier League or a top European club, his transfer fee makes him unaffordable, given the current financial crisis faced by football teams.
Yet, Manchester United have seemingly wasted most of their transfer window, in pursuit of Sancho, who Dortmund are unwilling to let go of, unless their £108 million price tag is met.
Manchester United have thus far, only been linked with alternatives, but have failed to make any headweight in negotiations, and with only 2 weeks of the transfer window remaining, United may have to resort to panic buys, where they will have to overpay for players.
#4 Fear of repeating past mistakes
After repeated mistakes in the transfer windows by Manchester United, the club are living in fear or making the same errors. In the past Manchester United have signed big name player for big money, like Alexis Sanchez, Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, and Romelu Lukaku, for whom they either paid exorbitant rates , or they agreed to pay massive wages.
Majority of these signings failed to impress at Manchester United, who had to incur massive losses when selling these players. United Chief Executive, Ed Woodward, is afraid to make another such signing, which would incur huge losses to the club, the likes of which they cannot afford now.
This could be a reason why United, were beaten by Tottenham to the signing of Gareth Bale. United were heavily linked with a move for Bale, but might have pulled out because they feared, that a deal for Bale, would be very similar to the one for Sanchez, where they had to pay huge wages, for a player whose best days were behind him.
#3 Inability to raise money from sales
Manchester United currently have many fringe players in their squad, that they are either unwilling to let go or have not found suitors for. Players like Jesse Lingard, Andreas Pereira, Phil Jones, Diogo Dalot, Marcos Rojo, and Chris Smalling are all first-team players, who do not seem to have any chance of breaking into the starting XI.
Chris Smalling spent last season on loan at Roma, where he became a cult hero. Smalling is the one player in the aforementioned list, who might still have a chance to play an important role in the United squad.
Jesse Lingard was linked with a move to Everton or West Ham and is maybe a player, who if sold, can raise £20-30 million. Right-back Diogo Dalot has also been linked with a move away, and is reportedly available for £15 million. Manchester United can use that money to reinvest in the squad.
In order to accommodate new signings, Mnachester United will have to make room in the squad, by moving on the likes of Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Andrea Pereira. The sale of these players, will also help open up United's wage cap, with Rojo, Jones and Pereira all earning in excess of £80,000 per week.
#2 No alternative options
This is a problem that we have seen with Manchester United, since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. United, spend the bulk of their transfer windows, chasing a single player. United have in the past, wasted entire transfer windows, chasing the likes of Gareth Bale, Thomas Muller, Cesc Fabregas, Antoine Girezmann and so on, rather than switching their attentions to alternative options.
Manchester United have seemingly wasted their 2020-21 summer transfer window, chasing Jadon Sancho, rather than focusing on alternative options like, Ousmane Dembele, Ismaila Sarr or Douglas Costa.
Manchester United will now have to resort to final week, or deadline day deals, where they will have to pay higher rates, because clubs will be aware of United's desperate efforts to make new signings.
#1 Lack of Ambition
This may be a harsh accusation of Manchester United, who in the past, have tried to sign big players, and the biggest managers in the game, to elevate the club back to the levels it was during Sir Alex Ferguson's time at the helm.
Manchester United this summer have however, given the impression that they are satisfied with their squad, because they earned a Champions League place last season. United's transfer business, fails to show any signs of the club trying to close the gap between them and Liverpool or Manchester City. Manchester United's transfer window, has not been that of a club that is aiming to fight for the Premier League, or for silverware.
Much of Manchester United's transfer activity, or lack of it, could be down to the lack of funds, because of the Coronavirus pandemic, or because of United's new transfer policy.
Manchester United fans are, however, worried about what direction the club are headed, and whether the 2020-21 season might be a campaign where they take two steps backward, after finally taking a step forward last season.
