Manchester United believe they have addressed their biggest concern this summer but there are jobs elsewhere that remain unfinished.
After a revamp in attack last year, midfield was the focus this time around with Casemiro’s departure leaving a huge void in the middle of the park.
Be it through personal preference or a reluctance to pay up, United missed out on players who emerged as their top targets in Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes. But the response to those setbacks was swift.
Three midfielders have been brought in to join Kobbie Mainoo in the engine room with Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba arriving in Manchester to split duties this season.
Exclusive Premier League previews
Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free.
Deadline Day came and went without a left-back and another striker arriving while efforts to sign highly-rated Leicester City midfielder Louis Page also collapsed.
United again struggled to offload those deemed surplus to requirements at the end of last season. Those who have left have done so for modest fees as supporters watched their rivals cash in big on their dead wood.
Man Utd incoming and outgoings
INCOMINGS
- Andrey Santos (Chelsea) – £48m
- Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) – £35m
- Carlos Baleba (Brighton) – £65m
- Tynan Thompson (Tottenham) – £8m
- Karl Darlow (Leeds United) – Free transfer
- Cristian Orozco (Fortaleza CEIF) – £850,000
OUTGOINGS
- Rasmus Hojlund (Napoli) – £38m
- Radek Vitek (Middlesbrough) – £7.5m
- Toby Collyer (West Brom) – £3m
- Casemiro (Inter Miami) – Free transfer
- Tyrell Malacia (unattached) – Free transfer
- Jadon Sancho (unattached) – Free transfer
- Tyler Fredricson (FC Lausanne-Sport) – Undisclosed
- Andre Onana (Trabzonspor) – Loan
- Altay Bayindir (Celta Vigo) – Loan
United overall will feel very satisfied with their business but time will tell if Michael Carrick has been backed sufficiently.
Grading Man Utd’s summer signings
(Grading from A to D)
Andrey Santos – B
United missed out on a string of midfield targets early on in the window but even as their plans changed, few expected Andrey Santos to be first in the door.
The Brazil international arrived from Chelsea for £48million having struggled to hold down a first-team role in a team that finished seven places and 19 points behind United last term. While the fee may have raised some eyebrows, United believe they have a long-term option in place.
United’s new-look midfield offers a blend of different qualities with Santos providing ball-winning and progressive passing in the middle of the park. He will ultimately be looked upon as the man to replace Casemiro who was so influential last season and the 22-year-old does share some of the qualities his countryman possesses although his goal threat is not one of them.
Is Santos ready for a leading role? Michael Carrick will hope so.
Youri Tielemans – A
An international captain with over 200 Premier League appearances for £35million is very decent business whoever you are. At 29 years old, Tielemans might not provide the long-term solution someone like Adam Wharton may have provided but Carrick now has a player very much in his own mould to set the tempo to his side.
The Belgium international brings established quality and consistency to the midfield and will be a huge miss for Aston Villa.
Carlos Baleba – B
After being told they would need to stump up £100million+ last summer, United bided their time with Carlos Baleba and finally got their man in August. The Cameroon international has the highest ceiling of any of their summer dealings, having shown his immense potential at Brighton two seasons ago. But the move still represents a sizeable gamble.
His stock fell dramatically last season, with form deserting him after United’s interest first emerged. If Carrick can get him back to the level that once saw him dominating Premier League midfielders, the £65million they paid this summer will be a bargain.
United’s midfield has lacked genuine athleticism and a player who can effectively eat up the ground. On paper, Baleba’s arrival helps address one of the biggest imbalances in the squad.
The one that got away
Midfield was the area of the pitch that needed the most urgent surgery this summer and bringing in three new faces to address it was the right move. But United’s problems spread elsewhere.
They have just one senior left-back in the squad to compete across three competitions. While he started every league match last season, Luke Shaw’s well-documented fitness issues and erratic form mean the decision not to bring in a new option was utterly negligent.
Lewis Hall appeared to be a prime candidate but INEOS has put off what needed to be done today until tomorrow again. The club’s financial situation will be put forward as the reason why incoming business stopped in midfield and will also be why United are still light up top.
Not many will have expected the club to lay out another £74million on a striker like they did last summer with Benjamin Sesko but a reliable alternative is still needed.
Danny Welbeck was a player United explored re-signing in 2024 and again last year. That was not the case this summer with Chelsea given a free run at signing the 35-year-old who could have offered the perfect short-term solution back at Old Trafford.