It was July 5 when Manchester United announced their first signing of this summer's transfer window, Tyrell Malacia, with the acquisitions of Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez confirmed within the subsequent two weeks.
Before the three aforementioned signings were made, there was plenty of unrest among supporters, but leeway was offered as signings were eventually made. The feeling was there that those involved within the transfer aspect of the club's hierarchy had actually spent time completing thorough due diligence before finalising the moves, which have been regarded as quite shrewd business (of course, it will only be proven as to whether that is actually the case over time).
But, over one month later and with less than two weeks now remaining before the transfer window draws to a close, United have completed no further signings (though one, in fairness, is now seemingly quite close). The summer-long pursuit of Frenkie de Jong remains nothing but a pursuit still - and now one of extremely diminishing possibility in terms of completion.
Barcelona's own mess is largely culpable for the fact that De Jong is now unlikely to move to Manchester, but it is unforgivable on the behalf of United that there appears to have been no contingency plan put in place in case of the eventuality that De Jong wasn't to join the club.
Now, there appears to be a frantic, last-gasp search for options, especially given the early-season realisation that the present midfield options are poorly-suited to the way that Erik ten Hag's sides operate. The no.6 role has been a priority position to upgrade for some time, yet the season has commenced without any upgrades. And it has become clear that, with hopes of signing De Jong fading, United have started to panic given that midfielders of various different profiles have been linked to the club in recent weeks.
Given that De Jong - more of a ball-playing deep-lying midfielder - has been so intently chased throughout the window, it has been clear that Ten Hag's preference has been to acquire a play-making holding midfielder. Napoli's Fabian Ruiz was the closest stylistic alternative on the market, yet United were too late to any pursuit with Paris Saint-Germain the most likely destination for the Spaniard.
Last week, reports insisted that United had been tracking Juventus' Adrien Rabiot 'all summer', though it was a timely coincidence that links only emerged in the aftermath of United's opening match defeat to Brighton - in which their midfield had struggled. The deal got as far as only personal terms needing to be agreed before the club walked away due to Rabiot's wage demands having been deemed far too excessive.
It was probably for the best that any move for Rabiot failed to materialise. The pursuit rather epitomised the panicked state of the hierarchy, with Rabiot no great upgrade on present personnel and certainly not an outstanding technical player as Ten Hag has been in search of. More so, opposite to De Jong, Rabiot is a combative midfielder. And, while a hard-worker as Ten Hag likes, Rabiot has failed to excel in any one role during his career. He likely would have been another stylistic misfit relative to Ten Hag's system, with his deviance likely to have been amplified by the fact that known attitude issues would possibly have further contributed to an unstable environment within the club.
Now, in recent days, more to the liking of United fans, it has emerged that Real Madrid's five-time Champions League winning midfielder Casemiro is set to join the club. He is an astronomic upgrade on Rabiot, while being the pronounced, elite defensive midfielder that United have been desiring for years.
But a move for Casemiro still outlines issues. First of all, it sparks confusion that United have gone from targetting a player of relatively average calibre for a minimal fee, to verging on signing a world-class player to operate in the same position in the space of just over a week. With interest in Casemiro only having emerged in the past few days, it is once again made clear that the club haven't put any long-standing plans in place as to players to sign.
Plus, while Casemiro does boast a perfectly able technical ability, he is regarded as more of an aggressive, 'destroyer' of a defensive midfielder contrary to the profile that Ten Hag has seeming been wanting. Of course Casemiro is effective enough in build-up, but he doesn't necessarily solve all of the club's issues in possession.
In addition, at 30 years-old, while still very much within the peak of his powers, Casemiro isn't an extremely long-term option. Signing players in their thirties for considerably fees is far from something that should continue as a regular theme, showing some lack of progress compared to previous regimes.
It is quite a fitting representation of United's present recruitment process that they are often signing 'the replaced' as opposed to 'the replacement'. That is shown by the fact that Casemiro is moving on due to Aurelien Tchouameni having been signed to ultimately succeed him at Real Madrid.
In reality, United should be a progressive-minded club that is signing younger players with potential to be mainstays for considerably in excess of five years. Instead, as it emerged this week, they are even planning on getting rid of some of their own youthful assets, with James Garner being told he is able to leave the club. The hierarchy allowing Garner to depart is no doubt a move that makes little sense given that he is a player with huge potential, plus there is currently a glaring lack of midfield depth.
None of this is to say that Casemiro isn't a fantastic addition, mind. Still one of the best in the world in his role, will be a huge upgrade on the current personnel that have operated in the deepest midfield position.
There have also, all of a sudden, become links with box-to-box midfielders too. It has often been reported that United have been keen on signing two midfielders (in addition to the move for Eriksen on a free), but there have not been any concrete indications that a search has commenced until recently.
As always, Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is one name that has been mentioned in terms of no.8s. Another name reported as a target is Brighton's Moises Caicedo, who United had the opportunity to sign for less than £5million before he joined Graham Potter's side; no doubt, United will be rueing failing to sign him given that his impact thus far in the Premier League will have seen his value considerably inflated.
It isn't just in midfield areas that there appears to be a chaotic search for players, however. For near enough the entirety of the window, it has been reported that, in addition to ideally a pair of midfielders (and an already-signed centre-back), United have been after a right-back and at least one forward (ideally two - a right-winger and striker).
Thus far, Martinez is the only confirmed signing made in a position that was particularly earmarked ahead of the summer, with Malacia (a left-back) and Eriksen (naturally a more attacking midfielder) more opportune pieces of business as opposed to being players that operate in areas detailed as priorities.
In terms of right-backs, there seems to have been little urge to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka even though it has become abundantly clear that he is not in Ten Hag's plans. Barcelona's Sergino Dest has been mentioned as an option, but, while he is young and is technically adept, there are defensive shortcomings similar to those of Diogo Dalot. Borussia Dortmund's Thomas Meunier has also been reported as a target, though, turning 31 years-old soon, he isn't exactly in an ideal age bracket for a right-back in terms of any view to being a long-term feature. Lyon's Malo Gusto is the most attractive option at 19 years-old, yet there have only been few reports in France suggesting a move could be possible.
The most pertinent sense of a lack of planning is given by the plethora of players suggested as options in forward areas. There have been both left and right-sided attackers mentioned, with a number of centre-forwards also said to be options.
Being a right-winger that Ten Hag is familiar with, Ajax's Antony has long been a player that United have been pursuing this window. Things had quietened down for a period, though there have been reliable reports that United are once again attempting to acquire the services of the Brazilian. Now, it would seem only a fee in excess of €80million would suffice, but United remain interested, adding to the mystifying feeling that funds have been hidden for most of the summer - outlined by pursuits of the likes of Rabiot and Marko Arnautovic.
Again, an inept amount of planning is shown by the fact that United keep returning to Antony rather than turning to other right-sided forward targets. There have only been loose links to Hakim Ziyech and Hirving Lozano in that regard, with most links being to left-wingers, which seems a slightly less pressing issue.
PSV's Cody Gakpo has been strongly linked but is confusingly viewed as an alternative to Antony despite playing on the opposite flank. Meanwhile, Chelsea's Christian Pulisic has been reported to be available on loan, though that again hints at a sense of desperation. Atletico Madrid's Yannick Carrasco is another player to have been linked to the club, which does indicate a sense that there is possible realisation that Marcus Rashford also needs more viable competition.
Then you also have the numerous striker options flagged too - also of varying profiles, again pointing towards inept groundwork being completed. There have been age differences, with Arnautovic and Jamie Vardy having been targets that are both ageing, with Benjamin Sesko more of a future prospect. Stylistically, there have also been differences: Matheus Cunha and Joao Felix are more technical forwards, with Sasa Kalajdzic, Alvaro Morata and Raul de Tomas opposing the games of the former pair.
It is hard to think that the transfer window actually started with distinct optimism. Those involved in the transfer structure behind-the-scenes appeared to have been positively patient before the first signings were made. But there has since been little further headway made, with the club now seemingly having drawn up a list of players without much rhyme or reason.
Casemiro is set to be secured, but there is a growing sense of impatience, with United's recruitment strategy growing more and more frenetic by the day.
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