Soccer
Man Utd’s new-look squad: Midfield rebuilt, but what about elsewhere?
Manchester United focused on rebuilding their midfield this summer but face questions as to whether they have left themselves short elsewhere.
Here, the Press Association analyses how they look following the closure of the transfer window.
Significant signings
Carlos Baleba (Brighton) – £70m
Andrey Santos (Chelsea) – £50m
Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) – £35m
Karl Darlow (Leeds) – free
United’s focus all summer was on the centre of the park, but it was not entirely straightforward. Their policy of not getting drawn into bidding wars and focusing on value for money saw the club step away from interest in Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes, while a deal for Brazil international Ederson – agreed early in the window – later collapsed. Instead, United signed the 22-year-old Andrey Santos from Chelsea, where his path to first-team football was blocked, and activated a clause in Youri Tielemans’ contract to get the experienced and technically-gifted Belgian for a relatively cheap price of £35million. Carlos Baleba, a long-term target, was the final major signing of the summer.
Summer departures
Casemiro (Inter Miami) – Free
Andre Onana (Trabzonspor) – Loan
Jadon Sancho – Released
Altay Bayindir (Celta Vigo) – Loan
Toby Collyer (West Brom) – £3m plus add-ons
Tyrell Malacia – Released
Radek Vitek (Middlesbrough) – £7m plus add-ons
The need for a midfield rebuild was primarily driven by the exit of Casemiro, who departed on a free transfer after four years at Old Trafford in which he made himself a fan favourite – and a very useful source of goals – as well as a serious injury for Manuel Ugarte. The arrival of Karl Darlow as a back-up to Senne Lammens also allowed both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir to continue their careers elsewhere.
One to watch
United will have to wait to see Baleba in action due to an ankle injury, but the 22-year-old is arguably the most intriguing – and exciting – of their midfield arrivals. A ball-winner who is strong in possession and can quickly turn defence into attack, the Cameroon international was on United’s target list 12 months ago when he might have commanded a price tag north of £100m after two hugely impressive seasons for Brighton. Last term he struggled for both form and fitness, allowing United to get a discount, but the Red Devils remain convinced by his underlying numbers, and believe they have signed a player who can anchor their midfield for many years to come.
Squad strength
United have done nothing to address their lack of cover at left-back, despite targeting Newcastle’s Lewis Hall and making a shock deadline-day enquiry over Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri. Luke Shaw is the only experienced left-back in the squad, and although both Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot can switch sides and Baleba is an option there too, United look light going into a season when they are back in Europe. Although many fans wanted to see another forward arrive in a summer when Joshua Zirkzee had been expected to depart, the return of Marcus Rashford to the first-team picture after 18 months away on loan could be a game-changer if Michael Carrick can get the best out of the England international.
