We might only be just over a week into the summer transfer window, but already Manchester United find themselves playing catch up to their rivals.
This was always going to be a difficult summer for Erik ten Hag. Last season’s horror show has left him with a mountain of work to do, and far from the ideal platform in which to do it.
United’s failure to land a top-four spot was always going to be a hindrance this summer, although their new manager perhaps didn’t expect things to be quite so difficult. Their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong isn’t quite going to plan, with Barcelona playing hardball over the midfielder’s fee, while reports are suggesting their interest in Jurrien Timber and Christian Eriksen could be all for nothing.
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All the while, their rivals are making hay. Manchester City have already made perhaps the signing of the summer in Erling Haaland and look to have more players in the pipeline, while Liverpool have added Darwin Nunez – beating United to the striker’s signature – and look to be on the verge of promising youngster Calvin Ramsay.
Tottenham have also been busy, signing Ivan Perisic and Yves Bissouma – yet another player that had been linked with a move to Old Trafford. Even Arsenal have got in on the act, with Fabio Vieira making the switch from Porto.
You only have to take a glance at United fans on social media to get a feeling of how anxious they’re getting at their club’s lack of transfer activity so far. It perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise to them though, given Roy Keane’s prediction last month.
“Whatever their problems, they have to look at where Man City are, where Liverpool are,” Keane said while speaking about United.
“Man City, Liverpool and these other teams aren't going to take it easy over the summer. They're going to reinvest, get players in and get stronger.
“Klopp might stay on, Pep might stay on. It comes down to recruitment: getting the right players in and getting players out of the door, because the last few years just haven't been good enough.”
The former United captain was spot on in his prediction for United’s rivals – although he might not have expected them to strengthen so quickly. Now, much like they were for the majority of last season, the Reds are playing catch-up.
Getting De Jong over the line would of course help settle the nerves of some of those supporters who are already fearing the worst. That is easier said than done though, given United’s current standing and the two club’s current valuations of the player.
Whether it’s De Jong or someone else though, United need to get a new face or two in quickly. Their rivals already had a head start after last season, and now there is a danger of them pulling further away without a ball even being kicked.
As Keane says, the recruitment still has to be right, especially after the year United have had. But what could be worse is wasting time chasing signatures, while those around you are getting stronger and stronger.
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