Erik ten Hag is hoping to have six signings confirmed by the time the transfer window shuts in his first summer as the manager of Manchester United.
It hasn't been plain sailing for United this summer, with their failed move for Frenkie de Jong well-documented, as were their short-lived pursuits of Marko Arnautovic and Adrien Rabiot. Ten Hag also looked at signing Darwin Nunez before his transfer to Liverpool, while top defensive target Jurrien Timber turned down a move to Old Trafford after being warned that it could cost him a World Cup place at the end of the year.
Yet, against all the odds, United are ending the window on an unexpected high after stumbling across a deal for midfield maestro Casemiro and Ajax ace Antony. Martin Dubravka will arrive as back-up to David de Gea, making him the sixth summer addition following moves for Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez.
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Ten Hag has certainly been able to add real quality to a side that lost six experienced players for free over the summer, though there has been a disappointing lack of player sales, leaving them with a host of peripheral figures who appear to have a minimal role to play in the coming weeks.
United will rely on their squad depth as the season progresses, with many fringe players set to get their chance in the Europa League, but there can be no ignoring the fact that the strongest squad has already begun to take shape after the opening weeks of the season.
De Gea remains the number one in goal despite the imminent arrival of Dubravka, though it means Tom Heaton will likely slip down to third choice as a result and be missing from most matchday squads.
Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia are the two favoured full-backs at this moment in time, though there is room for at least one on the bench with Luke Shaw more worthy of a role than Aaron Wan-Bissaka. It is a similar story at centre-back too, with Harry Maguire now a bench option when Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are both fit.
United's midfield set-up will likely depend on who they are playing, though Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes both look certain to start most weeks. It means Fred, Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen are vying for the final starting role, with Donny van de Beek still only a squad player.
Antony has to start in attack given the enormous fee invested in him, and he offers a unique threat as their only senior left-footed forward. Jadon Sancho is ahead of Marcus Rashford in the pecking order, and Anthony Martial has been excellent under Ten Hag so far.
It means Cristiano Ronaldo will need to accept his new role as a super sub if he ends up staying at Old Trafford until next year.
United's best XI: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes; Antony, Sancho, Martial.
Subs: Dubravka, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Van de Beek, Elanga, Rashford, Ronaldo.
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