admin Looking back at the pre-Premier League season, Manchester United fans really have a sense of optimism.
Four games and a month later, that feeling has somewhat subsided. The Reds have won just two games – both inconclusive at home against teams likely to struggle with relegation – as they were beaten by north London duo Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
What seemed like a promising transfer window a few weeks ago now looks disappointing due to a slow start to the new season.
But is it really that boring?Here’s how rates their offers this summer.
2023/24 Man Utd arrivals
Mason Mount – B+
Mount has not hit the ground running / Clive Rose/GettyImages
| Transfer date | Signed from | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 05/07/23 | Chelsea | £55m |
Erik ten Hag’s decision to use Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes as advanced midfielders in front of a lone six in Casemiro has been strange, with the duo often leaving the Brazilian high and dry.
The former Chelsea star was sidelined with injury following the second weekend of the new season and Man Utd have looked far more comfortable with Christian Eriksen coming back into the fold, fulfilling the need to sit a little deeper and give Casemiro a helping hand.
If Mount continues to roam free upon his return, then Man Utd will continue to cede midfield battles and his transfer could quickly be deemed a failure. But at £55m and so, so much of his Old Trafford career remaining, it remains a punt that was worth taking. Don’t listen to the social media trolls.
Andre Onana – A
Onana joined in July / James Gill – Danehouse/GettyImages
| Transfer date | Signed from | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 20/07/23 | Inter | £43.8m |
Man Utd’s need to bring in a new goalkeeper – one comfortable with the ball at their feet – was paramount this summer, even if it wasn’t in their initial plans (we’ll come to that later).
In Andre Onana, they have recruited one of the world’s best in that department, a fearless maverick that will not be spooked when on the ball or asked to play the Ten Hag way like David de Gea was.
A huge upgrade in their weakest area. Good job, Man Utd.
Rasmus Hojlund – C+
Hojlund made his Man Utd debut on Sunday / Robin Jones/GettyImages
| Transfer date | Signed from | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 05/08/23 | Atalanta | £64m |
Man Utd have been crying out for a striker that carries out actual striker duties for quite some time.
Edinson Cavani was a neat stop-gap back in 2020/21, but his run up front was short-lived. Marcus Rashford is clearly a wide player. Cristiano Ronaldo cared about only one thing, and that was Cristiano Ronaldo. Anthony Martial, thanks for your amazing 2019/20 campaign, but it’s time to go.
Whether Man Utd were right to dump an initial £64m on a slightly unproven 20-year-old can be debated (or, in my eyes, labelled as quite a daft thing to do). But he is at least a classic number nine and fulfils his required duties well, with ample room to grow at his young age. Every cloud.
Altay Bayinidir – C+
Man Utd brought in a second new goalkeeper towards the end of the window / Fran Santiago/GettyImages
| Transfer date | Signed from | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 01/09/23 | Fenerbahce | £4m |
A proven backup goalkeeper signed on the cheap. We don’t need to turn this into a long essay. Decent business, no more and no less.
Sergio Reguilon – B-
Reguilon was previously a target for Man Utd in 2020 / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages
| Transfer date | Signed from | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 01/09/23 | Tottenham | Loan |
With injuries to senior left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia threatening to derail the beginning of Man Utd’s season (you know, beyond this indifferent start), the Red Devils turned to the market to bring in a short-term replacement.
Sergio Reguilon is hardly the finest player or the best defender, but he’s a Premier League-level left-back that has long been on the club’s radar. For someone that’ll be relegated to third-choice in the coming months, that’s a nice little pick-up.
Maybe they should heed some caution that Tottenham were so happy to shift him to a rival, however.
Jonny Evans – B-
Evans has returned to Man Utd / Tim Clayton – Corbis/GettyImages
| Transfer date | Signed from | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 01/09/23 | Leicester | Free |
Listen, Man Utd fans. It’s fine that a senior pro like Jonny Evans is your fifth-choice centre-back.
How many teams get through three or four of them before turning to number five? It’s just rotten luck that the veteran defender took to the pitch in Sunday’s loss at Arsenal.
Against most teams, Evans should be able to hold his own and it’s unlikely he’ll even feature much more this season. Part of the reason he even returned to Old Trafford was to provide an experienced head and POV. That remains the case. Don’t lose your marbles.
Sofyan Amrabat – A
Amrabat joined on deadline day / Gabriele Maltinti/GettyImages
| Transfer date | Signed from | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 01/09/23 | Fiorentina | Loan |
While the signing of Mount looks questionable given how he’s been utilised so far, Sofyan Amrabat’s arrival provides Man Utd with the perfect tonic to treat that woe.
A physical and technical presence that is capable of playing with Casemiro as well as instead of, the Moroccan should help provide the midfield steeliness that Ten Hag’s side have lacked so far this term.
Factor in that Man Utd are only paying £8.5m for a season-long loan and retain a £17.1m clause to sign him permanently from Fiorentina next summer and this is a golden transfer, perhaps their best bit of business.
