Ranking the Premier League big 6 based on their summer transfer window

#5 Manchester United

Fred was the only major signing by Manchester United this summer

At the start of the summer transfer window, Manchester United’s summer transfer targets featured the likes of Gareth Bale, Alex Sandro, Willian and Toby Alderweireld. However, the reality was shocking!

The footballing giants made just three signings in the summer of which only one player is expected to add depth and quality to the first team instantly.

United’s first signing was teenage full-back Diogo Dalot from Porto. The player is one for the future but he was already nursing an injury when he joined the club and has hence missed the entire preseason and will be available for selection only in September.

The second summer signing was Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk. The Brazilian midfielder was also wanted by Manchester City in the summer but Man Utd beat their rivals to the 25-year-old’s signature. He is expected to fight for a starting role in midfield and also adds depth in that area of the pitch.

Their final summer signing was veteran goalkeeper Lee Grant from Stoke City. Grant joined the club as a third-choice goalkeeper and also possibly, to add to the homegrown quota. It is highly unlikely that he will ever play for the club in a competitive game.

Jose Mourinho clearly wanted to sign a centre-back and the club was linked with the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Yerry Mina and Harry Maguire but no move materialised for any of those players.

There were also rumours that Mourinho also wanted a reunion with Willian to solve United’s right wing problems but the Brazilian stayed put at Chelsea despite interest from Man Utd and Barcelona.

Man Utd were one of the clubs that voted against closing the summer transfer window early and now you can understand why. However, Mourinho was in favour of the window closing early based on his comments from a year ago.

“I’m not a market man but as a football manager I would like it [transfer window] to close before the first match.”

Transfer window rating - 2/5