Summer transfers are always controversial and full of
suspense. The whole footballing world have the eyes set on only few things,
which team will spend the most, which superstar agrees to a mega-money move,
who splashes the cash on the ‘next big thing’ or to be precise, like every
wonder-kid attacker touted the next Messi or Ronaldo. Followed by the
ridiculous amount of money spent. It is shocking to say that our beautiful game
has become the race against business big-wigs on who will outbid and out-pay each
other in a race to get their man. The best example being, last season, when
many cash rich clubs showed their financial might by nearly revamping their
squad or adding few marquee names to an already star-studded squad.
Last season, the biggest spenders were PSG, who broke the
transfer record twice in a matter of weeks by signing Neymar and Mbappe for a
total of approximately 400 million, on two players. They were clear favourites
to lift the Champions League but crashed out in the last 16. Secondly, came
Barcelona, who spent approximately 350 million on 19-year-old Ousmane Dembele,
who was out of action for nearly 5 months, failing to make an impact and
signing long-term target Phil Coutinho, they are on top of the La Liga and in
the quarter-finals of the Champions League. AC Milan spent money on a total
revamp of the squad, after new ownership. The club are back on the hunt for top
4 after the appointment of Gennaro Gattuso. Everton also spent big in the
transfer market, but it didn’t have any influence as the team couldn’t even
make it to the Europa League knock-outs and 9th in the Premier
League. Lastly on our list of big spenders come Manchester City. However, few
may argue with this point but, a revamp in defense by buying three new
full-backs, one center-back, a new goalkeeper and a midfielder has got them to
clinch the league title, winning the League Cup and in the quarter-finals of
the Champions League, making them the highest spenders in the league this
season. But, all these teams had one thing in common, they got their man
without any ease or controversy.
After Sir Alex retired, United became weak in the transfer
market. In spite of being financially strong, United lost a great leader in the
footballing world. Players wouldn’t drop an opportunity to play under a legend,
who could change their careers. But, things changed after David Moyes arrived.
He promised the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale, Cesc
Fabregas, Sami Khedira and probably the whole Real Madrid squad. Although these
deals didn’t happen, he also failed to secure a signature for even Leighton
Baines! Expectation turned into reality when he went from Toni Kroos to a last-ditch
attempt on Marouane Fellaini on deadline day, that too after hard negotiations,
he got his man for 27.5 million. Describing him as a ‘world-class’ player, we
all know how it turned out. His only good signing came in the form of Juan Mata
in January deadline day. United’s negotiating power was on its all time low.
United’s transfer business became some what better as the
club got their desired players. In his first season, Van Gaal bought Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo,
Daley Blind, followed by a marquee number 7 as Angel Di Maria and loaned in
Falcao. But those two failed to make an impact and the likes of Shaw and Blind
are on the fringes of the squad under Mourinho. He also had failed attempts to
sign Neymar, numerous Madrid players. His next season he bought Morgan
Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinstieger, Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, whom, eventually
got sold or are failing to make an impact this season. His only great signing
came as a fruitful panic buy on deadline day in the form of Anthony Martial.
The club also failed to sign Pedro for a matter of a millions. United didn’t
want to pay an extra million pound to Barcelona. They were nearly on the cusp
of signing him when Chelsea snatched the deal right under their noses within a
matter of hours. The United board also neglected the chance of signing Renato
Sanches because the club representatives were reportedly on ‘holiday’ and
didn’t even try. He eventually joined Bayern Munich. The board also neglected
the opportunity to sign a 17-year-old Ousmane Dembele, who were just beaten by
Dortmund for his signature, once again accepting defeat in the transfer market
in spite of financial strength. The club also neglected the advice of Ryan
Giggs, who personally scouted the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Mbappe when they
were young. They both were available for a reported value of 5 million. The
same decision came back to bite United when both the players reached the top of
the world, winning the Golden Boy award and what not with PSG and Manchester
City.
The 2016/17 season showed more heart from the board and delivered
Jose Mourinho with his desired targets of Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitarayan,
Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. All the signings happened without ease as
there were hardly any competition from other clubs. The price for the players
were very reasonable and were good deals done by Ed Woodward, all before the
pre-season started. It looked as if the board were finally ready to support the
managers decisions and not give up on deals without a fight. That season turned
out to be a success. But this current season, transfer activity has once again
gone back to square one. Even though signing Lukaku, Lindelof and Matic, the
board weren’t able to provide the 4th signing required by the
manager. They were given the targets well in advance, had the funds but took an
extra cautious approach in the transfer target and looked for cheaper price
alternatives and were not reluctant to spend the money in this inflated market.
Top players were signed right under their noses and the board didn’t even make
an effort to sign them. It would be obvious that if United would have got
Alexis Sanchez or a player of his caliber in the summer, the club would have been
in a better position than the current situation.
While United were dormant in the chase for the 4th
signing in the summer, rivals and other European giants were busy adding
marquee signings to their squads. It is no doubt that United will need to flex
their financials muscles a little more in order to cope in this modern footballing
era dominated by money. This season, United failed once again to sign Gareth
Bale due to the risk of losing De Gea and the high asking price quoted by
Madrid, for a player aged 29 and highly injury prone. Many fans till this
moment disregard a move for him given his injury record and say that would be a
waste of wages and frequent injuries. A forward like Bale would be a target for
any defender, given his abilities, any
defender would risk a card in exchange for a crunching tackle on a fragile Bale.
Just imagine Bale, running from the right wing and comes in contact with a
harsh challenge from a flat-track-bully.
Mourinho has stated that United will sign at least 4 players
next summer and midfield being a priority. United lack dept in midfield. With Carrick
retiring, Fellaini and Herrera’s future looking uncertain, Jose will be looking
to add quality in midfield around Pogba. They have reportedly shortlisted
Milinkovic Savic valued at 85 million, Marco Asensio, who has a 200 million
release clause, Jorginho and many others. Jose is also looking to revamp his defense
with moves for Samuel Umtiti, Raphael Vararne, Alex Sandro. Topping all rumors,
United will also look to sign Ronaldo or Neymar.
It is clear that, if United want to sign even two of the
above players, they will have to change their transfer strategy. Being conservative
and slow, will not get you any player in this inflated market. You have no
option but, to start an aggressive approach in the coming market. Given United’s
ease in the market, it is looking pretty difficult to even thing of getting any
player. These players are on the top of the wish list of every major club and
being assertive and easy going, won’t get you anywhere, players will be bought
right under our noses and the board will not be able to do anything about it as
they give up so easily, despite having the required finance. The board need to
now start taking an aggressive approach, in the sense of do or die but get your
man at the right price. The board back out of deals only because of the high
value of the players. It is somewhat justified on United’s part, but, given the
inflated market where players are bought for ridiculous prices, United will
have to deal with it as we can’t do anything about it. Get the player at the
right price.
Not saying that United shouldn’t negotiate and lower the
price. You get the player at a cheaper rate, fantastic, but if you don’t, you have
no option but to give the asking price if you want the player. The world is
very ruthless, in the modern footballing world, no one is going to play fair or
just, football has become a business and everyone wants profits. Today, price
of players is increasing even more than the price of crude oil and we cannot do
anything about it. In today’s market 89
million for Pogba is considered nothing, but a bargain.
With the World Cup coming up in the summer, right when the
transfer window opens, it will be very difficult to compete the deals fast as it
is important for players to concentrate with the national team in the biggest
event in competitive sport and football, there is no margin for error if your
head is being on a transfer elsewhere. All clubs will be looking to complete deals
as soon as possible due to this reason. This will make things even more
difficult for United as competition will loom around.
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