Manchester United had an interesting transfer window for the 2022/23 season. New manager Erik Ten Hag is at the helm and he is someone looking to pull the plans in the window the club has done so far contrary to this time at Ajax when the hierarchy took more control of the transfer dealings although his current board also had a say on the random transfer links that didn’t go down well. The torrid start to the season with a 2-1 loss to Brighton in Old Trafford on the opening day and then a forgettable 4-0 defeat at Brentford sparked fury among the supporters already protesting against the owners, the Glazers which was not helped by the club drawing serious interest on players like Marko Arnautovic and Adrien Rabiot after those defeats. It was said that prior links of the manager with the players was the factor. Both moves fell through because of fans threatening to boycott games if the transfer of the striker from Bologna goes through simply for the nature of the deal and Arnautovic’s earlier allegation of racism while Rabiot’s high wage demands claimed by his agent who is his mother were a no go. The Red Devils were criticized for not learning from their mistake in the past but the latest deals that have materialized may finally help them to build a challenging squad required for a stature like Manchester United.
Two signings from the Dutch league, as per Ten Hag’s choice mainly, $65m on Lisandro Martinez and $17m on Tyrell Malacia are looking positive basically for the former who has been unfairly criticized for his short height being a center-half to be one of the contributing factors for unconvincing results in the first two games and a problem for the overall season. The defender signed from Ajax has silenced those critics in emphatic display in the last two matches. Left-back Malacia’s fight and determination have been appreciated by fans considering they lacked someone giving it all in a United shirt for a long time now. Playmaker Christian Eriksen’s arrival on a free is the upbeat needed and the Dane will not be forced to play as an out-of-position false nine role or a deep-lying number six receiving the ball under press as two mega signings in Casemiro from Real Madrid and Antony from Ajax will bolster both areas of the pitch. The $70m deal for the Brazilian has handed Manchester United a serial winner who was once untouchable at Real Madrid but is now the ‘happiest man alive’ in his new team and will bring a lot more stability in the midfield with his class something lacking hugely in the pair of Fred and Scott Mctominay and after the mass exodus of players in the region in this transfer window. United finally agreed to a lavish $100 deal for another Brazilian and top talent, Antony from Ajax for a front-man the club was desperate for although Ten Hag has assured he will play on his preferred right with Marcus Rashford to lead the line this season with or without a certain Cristiano Ronaldo if more signings aren’t happening prior to the transfer deadline.
That brings us to the most stinging part for Manchester United in this transfer window, the uncertainty over the Portuguese superstar’s future at the club. Clearly pushing a way out to meet his desire of playing the Champions League, that United missed on thanks to an appalling season the previous, ditching the preseason games as a process but not finding any suitors in the market agreeing to the lump sum of wages for a 37-year-old logically regardless of him being one of the best players on the planet. With the deadline day looming large, Ten Hag seem to have no choice but to keep Ronaldo in his plan, one year on the transfer done purely on commercial interest rather than sporting. The manager has signaled his authority though by benching the player in his second spell at the club from the start to only use him in cameos is not a pretty watch for everybody, for or against the situation, involved in the saga. Club captain Harry Maguire has also faced the axe from the starting lineup with no sign of improvement in his form. United has looked good and a fresher team without those two in the lineup and has turnaround the season. Soon, goalkeeper David de Gea will carry the same faith with his inability to play out from the back or having a command in his box is a stumbling block in setting the team up according to Ten Hag’s tactics. The loan signing of Martin Dubravaka from Newcastle with an obligation to buy will push the Spaniard down from his number one spot. Right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka seems to be heading out but the amount of money spent has hindered United’s swoop for an appropriate player to give competition to Diogo Dalot. The club was linked with Barcelona’s full-back Serginio Dest, another player who played for the manager before, although the Catalan side are unwilling to sell him without a replacement in place.
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The deficiency for a center-forward, a right-back and another winger remains although if Ten Hag can fully integrate this group of players into his philosophy and work wonders unlike the predecessors with the manager having full support from the board, Manchester United may start taking the baby steps to return back to their old glory. A big if is the question remains hanging at the club now for a decade.
