For Manchester United, the 2021-22 season marked the zenith of their post-Alex Ferguson era.
Despite high-profile signings in the summer leading up to the season, the cracks behind the club were exposed brutally in a season that saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked as manager and an underwhelming spell under Ralf Rangnick bringing the club to sixth place in the league.
The only positive from Rangnick's time in charge of United was the promise that the well-renowned sporting director would be staying on in a consultancy role after the season's conclusion, to guide the club's transfer activity.
Now, even that is gone, with Rangnick set to focus on his job as Austria manager. New Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has his work cut out to build another trophy-winning team at Old Trafford. It is five years now since the club won any silverware and, judging by last season, the current squad will not be good enough to change that.
Nonetheless, Manchester United have been worryingly stagnant in the transfer window, as their rivals Manchester City and Liverpool have made big-name acquisitions. Given United finished over 30 points behind both City and Liverpool last season, the added strength of their rivals will do nothing to quell fears for fans that they will fall further behind in 2022-23.
Manchester United: Fans frustrated as rivals race ahead in transfer window
Ex-Manchester United right-back Gary Neville was one of the high-profile names to criticise his former club's transfer strategy this summer, saying that moves will need to be made soon if Erik Ten Hag is to be expected to build a title-winning squad.
I know early in the window but it’s worrying that United are struggling to get business done. The others seem set and ready yet United can’t get moving. ETH needs his group together asap to mould them. Bringing them in late will only make it harder for him! 🤞🏻 it happens soon!
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) June 16, 2022
Parallels can be drawn to last season's transfer window. The high-profile arrivals of Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho were both announced before the start of the season, but it was late August before either could be meaningfully integrated into the squad. Sancho would take months to find his feet in the United squad.
Even Cristiano Ronaldo, the only signing made by Manchester United last season who could be deemed a definite success, arrived late in the window, disrupting the flow of the squad and forcing manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to reshuffle his pack.
If we faff about all summer and are signing players once the season has started, expecting them to adjust to their new teammates and PL without a pre-season, then it only means we start off on the back foot again. We’ve got a few weeks left. Can only hope we’ve learnt our lesson.
— Scott Patterson (@R_o_M) June 8, 2022
With a tough start to the season on the cards for Erik Ten Hag and Manchester United, movement in the transfer market is needed sooner rather than later.
All of the big 6, plus Leicester and Everton away in first 13 games for Ten Hag. Need to give him a chance by getting the new players in by pre season. https://t.co/WnlL4oTxlS
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) June 16, 2022
It's not as though their haven't been links to high-profile players. United have been linked with Jurrien Timber, N'Golo Kanté, and, bizarrely, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, among others. Reports last month suggested that United's inactivity may have already cost them four of their prime targets.
The links to Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona have been the most persistent. De Jong, who played in the Ajax team which Erik Ten Hag brought to the 2019 Champions League semi-finals, has seemingly been on the verge of a move to Old Trafford for the past three months.
By the time Manchester United actually decide to make a bid for the Dutch midfielder, he may already have retired at this rate.
Year 2070 and Man United are still close to signing Frenkie de Jong pic.twitter.com/utkhqTziqC
— mohamed 🍥 (@Mohamed_therad) June 16, 2022
None of the above changes the fact that Manchester United's targets appear to be in the wrong areas of the pitch. De Jong is an attacking midfielder - of which United already have Bruno Fernandes and Donny van de Beek. What the club really needs is another right-back, another centre-midfielder, and another striker.
Every transfer window… pic.twitter.com/cTHCQ2i7E1
— Jay Motty (@JayMotty) June 11, 2022
Early in the window, United were linked with Aurélien Tchouameni, but the Frenchman has now opted to move to Real Madrid instead. Real's transfer activity has seen them strengthen the midfield, where they were already strong, and improving their options in areas of weakness.
Manchester United, on the other hand, have done neither.
Madrid sign Aurélien Tchouameni from Monaco. He was one of the players Ralf Rangnick advised MUFC to try and sign. More in the new UWS out next week.
— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) June 11, 2022
Manchester City won the Premier League title with 93 points last year, and responded by breaking the bank for Erling Haaland, one of Europe's very best strikers. Liverpool won both domestic cups, and came close to completing a quadruple - their response was similar, snatching Benfica's Darwin Nunez for big bucks.
Manchester United finished sixth in the league, 35 points behind winners City, and were knocked out of both cups and the Champions League before the quarter-final phase. Their response has been to twiddle their thumbs and allow their rivals to race ahead.
For some United fans, acceptance of the club's ineptitude in the transfer market appears to be the only option...
Sir Alex Ferguson wanted Benzema and got given Michael Owen.
David Moyes wanted Cesc Fabregas, and got Marouane Fellaini.
Jose Mourinho wanted Maguire and got no one.
Ole wanted Haaland and got Ighalo.
Managers being let down is a consistent trend at United... #MUFC— Stretford Paddock (@StretfordPaddck) June 17, 2022
City and LFC getting stronger is one thing, but were we really gonna catch them this season? Spurs strengthening and Conte having a full pre-season is far more worrying. Top four already feels like it's got 3 teams nailed on. Ten Hag has his work cut out
— Jay Motty (@JayMotty) June 14, 2022
Blocked until we sign someone👍🏽 pic.twitter.com/KbgGVaLzuT
— milly⭐️ (@MagicalSancho) June 17, 2022
https://t.co/fPhJsnNXt0 pic.twitter.com/o9imGG2UiP
— J0rd! (@J0rdi_10) June 17, 2022
Manchester United should have signed Tchouameni and Nunez while they had their chance. Instead, it is likely we will see them overly dependent on young players such as Anthony Elanga up front, and
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