Another summer, same story 🤦.
United's transfer strategy every year seems to be the same as it focuses on doing business toward the latter stages of the window rather than trying to bring in new players sooner rather than later.
This is coming from The Athletic after they reported that United were to ramp up their transfer business post their US tour. United had already brought in Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon who have featured in America whereas latest signing Bryan Mbeumo hasn't. In fact, Ruben Amorim has confiemd that the Cameroonian won't play the next match against Bournemouth on Thursday due to his fitness levels not being up to scratch.
This is likely due to not being involved in Brentofrd training or going full tilt in his own personal workouts so as to avoid any injuries or mishaps that would have jeopardised his move to United. June 2nd was when the report came out from David Ornstein that Mbeumo wants a move to MUFC. He was signed on 21July, 49 days later. That is just over 6 weeks.
While Mbeumo may have done his own individual training, it's not the same as with teammates, tactical drills, high-intensity pressing routines or even behind-closed-doors freindlies.
As he is joining a new club with a new system, surely the club would want that player to get to grips with that system as soon as possible? This will also give them more of a chance to gel with their new teammates, develop relationships on and off the pitch and see how to get the best out of him.
With Mbeumo's signing taking so long, he is out of rhythm, isn't sharp and as Amorim said (“Bryan is starting slowly, “he is not going to play in the next one. We hope to have Bryan in the last game [in the U.S.]. He’s training now, so we’ll see”), he won't be playing the next match.
This is an example of what can happen when you take too long on a deal. The fact that he wanted to join well before pre-season started to the point where he will miss most of it, is diabolical. And how much of that final game against Everton will he be able to play?
That match is on Sunday which is two weeks before the start of the season when United take on Arsenal. By then, hopefully Mbeumo will be sharp in all the key areas to be able to play but I have a sneaky feeling the manager will bench him. I don't think he will be ready enough to start which if true, is a poor reflection on the club.
*This is just a hunch btw, don't think I somehow already know Amorim's first lineup of the season.*
At the moment, United are looking at two strikers in Sesko or Watkins to be the man up front for the upcoming season. There's a lot of talk about there being conversations between United and Leipzig and United and Villa for each player.
When it comes to Watkins, Villa had reportedly told United that the striker is "not for sale" in the last week, however, The Athletic are saying that United believe that he could be available for an offer worth up to £40m-£45m which is much lower than Villa's £60m valuation.
There could be financial difficulties that cause this deal to take some time, if it comes to pass.
With Sesko, not only is his fee a problem (The Athletic say United believe the Slovenian is expected to cost around £69-£78m) but also having to face stiff competition from Newcastle. The Magpies are preparing for life without Alexander Isak and have looked at Sesko as a potential replacement.
In the last couple hours, Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph has said that Newcastle seem to be the striker's likelier destination over United.
That might be one option gone.
The point is, both these potential deals come with their issues and may result in United taking a while to get them done. Mbeumo came out and said that he wants to join United and only United despite links to Spurs and we were also the only club that were actually in for him. That didn't stop us from taking 6 weeks to sign him.
With the problems that come with Sesko and Watkins and in Sesko's case, there being competition, how long will MUFC take on these?
A part of me feels we won't have a new striker or any new player for that matter, come August 17th. Leon, Cunha and Mbeumo will be the only additions to the squad.
That simply isn't good enough considering how much we needed to improve and how much we still do. There is also multiple players that need moving on yet are still at the club.
Not sure why we also do this thing where we always seem to look at one deal at a time whether that be incomings or outgoings. While Leon and Cunha arrived at the same time, Leon was signed in January but could only come to United in the summer.
This has been happening for so many years and even with new co-owners and a new footballing structure, it appears that old habits die hard.
I also can't understand why United have to do business either before or after a pre-season tour. The first three signings were brought in before going to America and the rest (if there is to be more) will come after. Look at Chelsea and City. Done quite a few deals whilst out at the Club World Cup let alone pre-season.
As I said, Sunday will mark two weeks until the start of the new PL campaign and to be going into it without a new striker, goalkeeper, midfielder or wing-back - which for me, is one of the more important positions for this system and I can't understand why it isn't being looked at more - tells me that we aren't prepared for the start of the season.
When Omar Berrada said that "we've been planning for many months" makes you question whether they were planning anything at all considering how the window has gone so far. It comes across as false because we can see that the priority positions for most (GK, ST) are still not filled.
From earlier in the window, we knew that Liam Delap was target no 1. That was followed by Viktor Gyokeres. Victor Osimhen was another whose name was linked with United. Hugo Ekitike became a fourth-choice. Now we've gone down to the likes of Sesko, Watkins and even Nicolas Jackson for a period although thankfully that deal seems to be unlikely.
If the club were planned for the window, surely we wouldn't have gone so far down the list of potential strikers? I understand that getting your first or second choice maybe difficult especially after the season we had and the little we can offer but to be down to 6th, 7th even 8th choice?
And while they've taken so long on Mbeumo and still haven't brought in a striker, other areas of the team have been neglected most notably goalkeeper. Villa have also been said to have turned down United's loan offer for Emi Martinez. Whether he is the goalkeeper we should be looking at is another matter but all agree that Andre Onana needs to be replaced.
Recent examples of late deals include the likes of Casemiro, Antony, Zirkzee, De Ligt, Mazraoui. All of whom could have made a difference in those opening games.
You could add the fact that we may overspend because of signing them late as we get desperate and just need something done. Will we do the same again?
Probably.
Those opening fixtures also worry me: Arsenal, Fulham, Burnley, City and Chelsea are the first five. Liverpool, Brighton, Brentford and Spurs follow not long after that. How many points are we getting from these games with the squad we have?
Drop points in these matches and it could have huge ramifications for later in the season.
I just can't understand why we do deals late. Have they not learned from the past?
We don't have to go and sign everyone but a few in areas that we need massive improvements will certainly put us all at ease.
This transfer window is looking more of a failure than a success and can impact how Amorim's first full season in charge goes.
Ruben Amorim needs more signings but may have to wait until after Man Utd's pre-season tour | Ruben Amorim: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images via PSG Talk