Manchester United’s brand new manager Erik ten Hag will be fuming after the club failed to complete the signings he wanted. Ten Hag was hired on the promise he will be backed in the transfer window and a complete overhaul of the squad will be staged. However, United fell flat on their pursuit of Ten Hag’s prime target Frenkie de Jong who rejected their multiple approaches.
But the Red Devils did achieve success in clearing up a good chunk of their wages by releasing a host of wantaway players. Almost half-a-dozen players left Old Trafford after their contracts expired at the end of last season which included the likes of Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata.
A summer of goodbyes for Manchester United
United were ready to conduct heavy business in the transfer window after they missed out on the elite Champions League competition finishing sixth last season. With Ten Hag at the helm, they first focused on the outgoings to make space on their wage bill to fit in new players. Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani and Nemanja Matic all left for free.
Meanwhile, loan deal were approved for young talents in Dean Henderson [Nottingham Forest], Amad Diallo [Sunderland], Hannibal Mejbri [Birmingham] and Alvaro Fernandez [Preston]. Another loan was also facilitated for left-back Alex Telles who joined Sevilla after lack of game time at United. Money was made from the sale of midfielder Andres Pareira and center-back Eric Bailly.
The biggest positive from United’s transfer window should be Cristiano Ronaldo. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner wanted to quit the club over lack of Champions League football, but as evident he failed to find a new suitor. As a result, he will now have to see out his current contract which runs until the end of next season, only if he further fails to leave in January.
Talking about the incomings, it has to be a mediocre summer for United who only managed to attract Antony, Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez and Martin Dubravka alongside Casemiro. Moreover, some may argue that the Devils overpaid for the likes of a 30-year-old Casemiro [£60 million] and Ajax winger Antony [£85 million].
INs:
Antony- £85.5 million
Casemiro- £60 million [plus £10 million in add-ons]
Lisandro Martinez- £48 million [plus £8.4 million in add-ons]
Tyrell Malacia- £13.5 million
Christian Eriksen- free transfer
Martin Dubravka- Loan
OUTs:
Andreas Pareira- £8.5 million
Eric Bailly- £1.8 million
Paul Pogba- joined Juventus on free transfer
Jesse Lingard- joined Nottingham Forest on free transfer
Edinson Cavani- joined Valencia on free transfer
Nemanja Matic- joined AS Roma on free transfer
Juan Mata- released
Loans:
Dean Henderson [Nottingham Forest], Amad Diallo [Sunderland], Hannibal Mejbri [Birmingham], Alvaro Fernandez [Preston], Alex Telles [Sevilla]