Manchester United were big-hearted in the 2024 summer transfer window, and they acted boldly. The Premier League giants must have thought that they would require an overhaul of the team under head coach Erik ten Hag, and so they acted precisely in this window.
Man Utd struggled last season in the league, marking a poor eight-spot finish in the table, with a goal difference that just touched minus! The stalwarts had fewer wins (18) than draws (6) and losses (14) combined. Of all the competitions they participated in, they were only able to clinch the FA Cup.
So, after an impressive last season, the club looked determined to change the scenario this time. From the time the summer transfer window opened, till the deadline day, the team was aiming for a revamp. A lot of big arrivals and departures were observed.
On that note, let’s have a look at how Manchester United’s summer transfer window in 2024 happened:
Problems Prior to the transfer window in the Manchester United squad:
- Rusty/ Average: Had it been a mid-table performer’s squad, things would have been perfect. But, playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe, the squad majorly looked to perform below par, appearing rusty very often. The team required players in form with a fresh approach.
- Attack: Despite having big names like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Greenwood, and many more, the team lacked potential in the final third, often messing up big chances created.
- Defense: The side spent heavily on defense, but the backline still looked shaky. The multi-million dollar defense couldn’t stop the side from having a goal difference in negative in the last season of the league.
Problems Addressed
- Defense: Manchester United paid a hefty sum to make their defense look one of the strongest in Europe. They spent over 120 million Euros in transfer fees to secure the best defenders available – Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazaraoui.
- Attack: Joshua Zirkzee, one of the brightest potentials have been lured in by Manchester United to bolster their attack. Zirkzee has the ability to convert big chances, a zone where Man Utd baffled last time.
Also Read: Top 10 worst deadline day transfers in football history
Problems Now
- Centre-Forward: The team has signed Zirkzee, as mentioned earlier, but they still have only two natural strikers. While Hojlund is injured, Zirkzee is the only choice for some time. His unavailability will cause wingers to play there, forcing the same issues of missing chances to occur again.
- Inconsistency and injuries: Manchester United have signed big-money players with huge potential, but their key concerns remain the same, inconsistency and injuries. While a promising Yoro is out with an injury for three months, De Ligt has been majorly on the bench last season, so he needs to prove his spot in the new club.
Similar problems of inconsistency and injury can be observed in the attacking half, while players like Rashford, Antony, and Garnacho have huge potential, they need to be good every week. Staying fit will be the biggest challenge.
Manchester United: All Arrivals and Departures
Arrivals: Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte (loan deal)
Departures: Scott McTominay, Mason Greenwood, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Hannibal Mejbri, Willy Kambwala, Facundo Pellistri, Alvaro Carreras, Donny van de Beek, Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial, Brandon Williams, Omari Forson, Sofyan Amrabat
Manchester United possible XI after the 2024 Summer Transfer Window
GK: Onana;
RB: Dalot,
CB: Yoro, (injured now) (signed for 62 million Euros)
CB: Lisandro Martinez,
LB: Shaw;
CM: Ugarte, (signed on loan deal)
CM: Mainoo;
RW: Bruno Fernandes,
SS: Zirkzee, (signed for 42.50 million Euros)
LW: Garnacho;
ST: Hojlund (injured now)
Best substitutes for each position:
GK: Bayindir
RB: Mazraoui (signed for 15 million Euros)
CB: Harry Maguire
CB: Matthijs de Ligt
LB: Malacia (injured now)
CM: Eriksen
CM: Casemiro
RW: Antony/ Diallo
CAM: Mount
LW: Rashford
ST: Zirkzee