It’s fair to say that Manchester United still have work to do during what has become a highly-maligned summer transfer window.
Deals for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have done little to quell the desires of an expectant fanbase, with calls of everything from a lack of ambition to penny-pinching regularly making headlines.
For many, you’re only as good as your previous success story. And a memorable period that brought Senne Lammens, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko to Old Trafford is long forgotten.
But officials remain calm in the North West, despite setbacks, as has been the case for some time. Our sources have long indicated that the general feeling inside the club is positive.
Plans to strengthen the first team remain ongoing, and packages for aspiring talent continue to surface, as was the case with Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco.
Still, all of this will count for very little if additional names are not added to Michael Carrick’s squad before the September 1 deadline.
Failed attempts to sign Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes laid the foundations for the anger we see across social media today.
Although the former had his heart set on what he views as the ‘kings of Manchester’, a decision to walk away from a significant financial commitment for the latter was deemed as unforgivable by many.
When you factor in high-profile transfers for Sandro Tonali (£100m), Morgan Rogers (£117m), and Bruno Guimaraes (£75m) elsewhere, these amplified an already tempestuous setting.
Contrary to the viewpoint of some truly heroic individuals on Twitter, I have no desire to defend Ineos, nor am I a ‘shill’. As a proud working-class Irishman, I detest the treatment of those who were cast aside amid mass redundancies.
Furthermore, decisions regarding ticketing, seating, and a general tone-deafness toward supporters boil my blood.
All of that said, I’d like to think I’m logical enough to separate what has been and gone from the current sporting structure. Omar Berrada endorsed ambitious plans by publicly supporting Project 150.
With all due respect to you, me, and anybody else who dedicates their time, money and efforts to United, what benefit does he do himself in going against further sensible deals to fortify a group for a tilt at a Premier League title run?
You see, so many of the problems we encounter daily stem from individuals tasked with generating stories, regardless of the ramifications.
Marcus Rashford is a prime example. Say what you will about the circumstances regarding his return. Still, certain members of the media have already sought to gain their pound of flesh in releasing his holiday images.
When it comes to transfers, that old adage about paper never refusing ink remains true today. It’s easy for agents and writers to gain traction by including Manchester United in their work.
Would the Reds seek to solidify a deal for Aurelien Tchouameni or Lewis Hall immediately if it were remotely possible? Of course they would.
But as we stated in early July, a deal for the former was never truly viable. At the same time, attempts to recruit Hall have been rebuffed, with minuscule opportunities available only via record-breaking offers.
I assure you that we are witnessing a situation in which the club wants to purchase the Newcastle man from a side that doesn’t wish to sell.
It’s one thing to take a near-29-year-old for £75 million; call that ambition all you like. It’s an entirely different dynamic to agree on a fee for a 21-year-old with three years remaining on his current contract.
Should United forget a vision and pay whatever it takes, a precedent is laid for future negotiations, and the never-ending spiral of the ‘United Tax’ will continue to gain oxygen.
Is that showing ambition, or continuing a nonsensical trend? The question may have numerous answers, but asking it does not support a group that is unwilling to buckle; it is a relevant conversation.
At the time of writing, there are three weeks and two days, or approximately 551 hours, remaining in this summer’s window. Truthfully, I’ve never wanted anything to close so soon.
Nonetheless, I will never deviate from a sentiment I’ve owned since my early teens: it’s always best to judge a side’s progress at the end of the permitted period.
Would it be ideal to have a fully settled squad, capably moulded during a routine pre-season, before a competitive ball is kicked? Yes, without question. But that is so rarely the case with Premier League sides.
Also, with the best of respect to every team in the division, Carrick already has an abundance of quality to adequately prepare for a season opener against Hull before a follow-up meeting with Ipswich.
The Stretford End has far more to worry about if that is not the case.
Having spent time with individuals in Carrington, I know that many decision-makers would have liked to complete at least one more deal at this stage. But mitigating scenarios are always factored into the equation.
I’ve recently read a social comment that stated: “Why wait until it is too late to complain?” Honestly, the strain of spending your time fixating on things beyond your control is as beneficial as banging your head against the wall.
I recall a conversation I shared with an elderly Clare man in a pub located in the heart of County Kerry approximately 23 years ago. He was from Shannon, a town famous for its airport, and was far wiser than I am today.
Typically, I was complaining about something or other that was out of my control and irrelevant in the scheme of things, but his response has always stuck with me: “Stress is like a rocking chair”, he said. “It keeps you occupied and gets you nowhere.”
If there is any wisdom I can supply to you today, it’s to take that man’s words to heart and remember that multi-million-pound deals guarantee nothing.
Let’s see how Carrick’s squad looks in a little over three weeks and then assess the state of play at M16.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our social channels. Photos by mrogowski_photography and operations@newsimages.co.uk via depositphotos.com.
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