14 Aug 2026 16:41:02
We still have 2 1/2 weeks to go in the window. The club's net spend over the summer is £30m. Sure, it wasn't the household names everyone was getting excited about, but we have still made 2 very decent midfield signings. I also think that Carrick sees Mount, when he's fit, as an additional midfielder.
Obviously the new management team quite rightly wants to establish a more sustainable wages model and more effective transfer policy. Everyone keeps going on about the debt but both Chelsea and Spurs (largely stadium) have high debt to revenues ratios, especially since neither of them have European football this coming season. United should bring in close to £800m in 2025/6. Despite the debt, the club has bags of room to jump in during the next couple of weeks and make a couple of significant purchases. Let's see if they do.
As far as the current squad is concerned, I can see us being a lot more progressive than we have been since before the Moyes era. Tielemans, Santos and Martinez are all good passers and can break defensive lines. They offer a different types of threat to Bruno. We should be much faster attacking the low press. Mbuemo could have a real breakout season, both he and Rashford can run in behind. We have plenty goal scoring threats with Rashford (if he stays), Mbuemo, Cunha, Amad, Dorgu (clearly capable of the odd worldy), Tielemans, Bruno and Sesko.
So, in all, I think the squad has already been improved from last year and the club still has plenty room to improve it further if any of their targets becomes available in the next couple of weeks, whether or not Rashford and/or Zirkzee can be found a home.
14 Aug 2026 18:30:26
A £30m net spend for a team that claims to have ambitions to win titles is not particularly encouraging, whatever way you want to dress it up.
The squad is arguably better than last season. Although Casemiro was key to us finishing 3rd. However, the biggest difference this season is that we will hopefully be playing twice as many games. Carrick has been able to play his best 11 in every game since he took charge. He won't be able to do that anymore, and that requires a dependable squad. I don't think we have enough depth without further incomings.
CM - Mount is not a reliable option. His injury record speaks for itself. That leaves us with 3 first team midfielders.
That's not enough for a top side.
LB - Shaw played every league game last season. Even if he doesn't get injured, he needs backup. Dorgu is not a defender and Amass isn't ready.
ST - Sesko is our only outright striker. Zirkzee isn't an option. Mbuemo can fill in, in a pinch, and Rashford isn't the answer. We can't be going into a season like that.
The closer to the deadline, the more power selling clubs have. Good players at discount prices don't just materialise out of thin air at the deadline. That's why clubs try to do their business early. The club has placed itself in a position where it could end up panic buying, or heading into the season with glaring holes in the squad.
14 Aug 2026 21:26:33
Interesting snippet from Chat GPT on our transfers so far.
"With Champions League football back, United shouldn't be shopping like a club trying to sneak into sixth place.
My biggest criticism of the current regime: they're becoming very good at finding reasons not to spend rather than finding the two or three players who genuinely move United towards competing with Arsenal and City."
14 Aug 2026 23:25:12
Danny, I made a case for them being able to spend significantly over the next couple of weeks, should appropriate targets come available. I also said that I thought the squad had been somewhat improved already.
As far as transfers go, I'm reserving judgment until after the window closes. Whatever happens in the final couple of weeks, in the end the club and Carrick will be judged on the only criterion that really matters: results.