It's been long. It's been drawnout. It's been stressful. It's been very expensive. But in the end, Manchester United might have had a great transfer window after all.
It's not all gone to plan for Erik ten Hag, as United have been unable to get his top target in Frenkie de Jong but they've signed a rather decent, and probably more needed, alternative in Casemiro to add to the signings of Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez. Additionally, the club have also managed to snag his top attacking target.
The deal is still subject to international clearance and personal terms being agreed upon, but United have now confirmed the signing of exciting winger Antony from Ajax. The Brazilian comes at a hefty price, potentially rising to £85.5million, but he has been the manager's number one choice to enhance his attacking options since the start of the summer.
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Antony's imminent arrival brings much-needed balance to United's lopsided attack, as he is a left-footed right winger rather than a right-footed left winger, and he is sure to go straight into Ten Hag's strongest side once he is available. Once Antony and reserve goalkeeper Martin Dubravka officially join the club, that will likely be the end of United's summer business.
Those two additions would bring United's total signings this summer to six and all but Dubravka are likely to be in Ten Hag's new-look strongest XI. Despite his difficulties in playing out from the back, David de Gea looks as though he will remain No.1, with Ten Hag opting to change his style and not have the Spaniard be in possession as much. However, Dubravka's arrival will offer more competition, alongside Tom Heaton, if more big mistakes are made.
The contrast between United's opening two fixtures (humiliating defeats to Brighton and Brentford) with the proceeding two (wins over Liverpool and Southampton) couldn't be starker and the biggest difference has come in defence. Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw started both losses and since they have been taken out of the side United have looked so much more solid. It's clear that their replacements, Raphael Varane and Malacia, have to be in the back-line going forward. Martinez has begun to find his footing alongside Varane while Diogo Dalot remains ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Casemiro is the defensive midfielder United have been screaming for for years so he must be in the strongest XI to finally provide some protection to the defence. Christian Eriksen has added a desperately lacking range of passing and a dose of elegance to the middle so he should start alongside the Brazilian, but Fred, Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek provide plenty of options.
Bruno Fernandes scored a brilliant winner against Southampton and it's that ability to create moments of magic out of very little that makes him undroppable despite not being at his best for some time. Antony will almost certainly come in on the right of attack with Jadon Sancho on the other flank. Anthony Martial's unfortunate injury means that Marcus Rashford now looks to be the main striker for the foreseeable. Cristiano Ronaldo (if he stays), Anthony Elanga and Martial are good alternatives as well.
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