Leaving it late
Manchester United wait for deadline day again
The focus on transfer deadline day at Old Trafford might be not on who came in but who did not.
Jadon Sancho, the club’s biggest priority in the transfer window, stayed at Borussia Dortmund. The German club had made their stance clear early in the summer with the price – 120 million euros – and the deadline – August 10 – laid out.
Manchester United were still trying to sign him on deadline day, a move which has been seen as a sign that they are still green in the transfer market under the current regime.
Since Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013 there have been four permanent managers in the dugout where he was so successful and a lot of money has been spent on their behalf by the club’s board.
That money has all been sanctioned by Edward Woodward, the former banker who was rewarded with the Executive Vice Chairman job for his part in helping the Glazer family take over the club in 2005. Woodward replaced United’s former chief executive David Gill, who left at the same time as Ferguson.
As it was, United spent another deadline day chasing players. The view is that if they wanted these players then they would and could have bought them earlier in the summer.
It was the same a year ago. Harry Maguire was established as a target and Leicester City made clear what it would cost to lure him from them. That was at the start of the summer and he was only secured close to the end, and for almost the same terms Leicester had stood firm on from the outset.
Bruno Fernandes, who arrived from Sporting Lisbon on deadline day in the winter window of last season, was a major target last summer but the club could not agree a fee with the Portuguese giants.
Critics pointed to the impact that Fernandes had after his arrival – helping United to the semifinals of the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup as well as a final-day burst into the Champions League places – as evidence that he should have been signed earlier.
Also on deadline day in the winter window came a bizarre and unexpected move for former Watford striker Odion Ighalo from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua. The Nigerian hitman has played his is part since arriving at Old Trafford and been widely praised ised by manager Ole Gunnar ar Solskjaer but the target at the time was RB Salzburg rg striker Erling Braut Haaland who instead went to Borussia Dortmund.
The signings look scattershot, a feeling exacerbated by the late nature of the deals. Take this deadline day as an example.
The headline on deadline day was Uruguayan international Edinson Cavani, who at least appeared excited to be moving to Manchester to follow in the footsteps of countryman Diego Forlan.
“Manchester United is one of the greatest clubs in the world, so it is a real honor to be here,” Cavani said. “I’ve worked really hard during the time off and I feel eager to compete e and represent this incredible dible club.
“I have played in front of some of the most passionssionate supporters in football otball during my career and dI I know that it will be the same me in Manchester. I cannot t wait to experience the Old Trafford atmosphere, when it is safe for the fans to return.
“I look forward to continuing to write my little story inside the book of football and I know that’s why my focus has to remain the same as always – work, work, work. I have had a conversation with the manager and this has increased my desire to wear this beautiful shirt.”
Cavani – who scored 200 goals at PSG to become their record goalscorer – was welcomed with open arms by his new manager.
“His goalscoring record for club and country is fantastic and we are delighted to sign a player of his caliber,” Solskjaer said.
“He’ll bring energy, power, leadership and a great mentality to the squad but, most importantly, he’ll bring goals.
“He has had a brilliant career so far, winning trophies at almost every club he has played for for, and he still has so much more to give at the highest level.
“The opportunity for our young players to learn from one of Europe’s top goalscorers over the last 10 years is fantastic and it will really benefit them going forward.”
Cavani is 33. His experience will no doubt help Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood. That was also the argument in favor of Ighalo.
What makes less sense is that Cavani was out of contract with PSG this summer and United could have swooped in to sign him at any time, rather than waiting until deadline day to do business.
It is a similar story with Alex Telles, the Porto fullback who has finally joined after a long courtship, as Solskjaer indicated in welcoming him to the club.
“First and foremost I welcome Alex to United. He is a player we have been tracking for some time and his performances over the past few years are exactly what we are looking for,” the manager said.
“He is a fighter and a winner and will add real determination and competition to the squad. Alex has the qualities, both as a player and as a person, that we want here at Manchester United.”
If they want them so much then why not do business earlier? Especially if the player has been tracked for years.
There were two other deadline day deals, both of which targeted the right wing weakness that Solksjaer had earmarked Sancho for but neither were Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele, who the club launched a late bid for.
A pair of teen wingers – Uruguayan Facundo Pellistri from Penarol and the Ivorian Amad Traore from Atalanta – were signed, though the latter will only join in January. Both are hot prospects but they pose the question why they were signed so late, Traore had already been announced as going on loan to Parma.
As with much of the last seven years, the question is: What is going on at Old Trafford?