With only about 36 hours left, and not much real chatter out there about another major addition, the Manchester United 2019 summer transfer window is pretty much ready for recapping and analyzing. Sure, something may happen tomorrow on deadline day, and if it does we’ll adjust accordingly, but for the most part, it feels like United’s transfer business could be done.
Overall, their business was sort of similar to how film director Woody Allen describes romantic relationships in all of his movies- maddening, frustrating, making you long for what’s missing/missed, but also requisite and fulfilling.
You can choose to obsess about acquisition deals that got away, or you can focus on the fact that United did a great job addressing positions of need. United’s window was messy and perplexing, just like the concept of being in love.
Manchester United New arrivals of note:
Central defender Harry Maguire from Leicester City, Winger Daniel James from Swansea City, Right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The Maguire deal was one of the most overly protracted and ridiculously tedious narratives in recent memory. However, it finally gave United a centre back upgrade, something they have been attempting and failing at for so long that you almost had to root for them; no matter what the cost.
The wings are certainly an area of need, but will James develop into that much of an upgrade over what they currently have? It remains to be seen.
Wan Bissaka may not have been playing his current position very long, or have shown the superior form of last season over the course of his entire career, but he’s no doubt a major upgrade over what United had at the position entering into the silly season.
Manchester United Departures of significance:
Right back Antonio Valencia to LDU Quito, Midfielder Ander Herrera to Paris Saint-Germain
While Valencia’s time had come and passed, losing Herrera hurts, but hey, I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. He was one of the more rah-rah players on United, so the dressing room can use him. With the transfer window still open in other countries, midfielder Paul Pogba (Real Madrid or Juventus) and striker Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan) could still leave.
We have some doubts that the former will leave, but the latter- probably a 90/10 bet to bolt. Especially now that he’s literally skipping training. When you’ve got someone holding out- it’s time to let them go.
Manchester United Team Needs Addressed and Not Addressed:
While we already covered this to some extent, United are so weak and thin in central defense (especially now with the injury to Eric Bailly) that nabbing a second, maybe not as high-priced CB would not have hurt. Another midfielder would have been nice too, and while there’s still time, it just doesn’t seem like that deal is going to happen.
As it stands, United are still kind of a disjointed side with a lot of pieces that don’t really fit. However, they have so much talent that there is also no excuse for not finishing in the top four this season; provided everyone stays healthy.
Transfer Window grade: B
Synopsis and Season Outlook:
It’s going to take at least a couple more transfer windows to get this rebuild right. They still need to jettison some dead wood and then really go forward with the new stated direction- younger, promising homegrown players with high potential.
They have gotten off to a good start with their new directives and objectives, and it’s certainly a lot better than the old strategy (if there ever really was one) of just buying the biggest names possible whenever they could.
Heading into the season, which begins on Sunday with a clash against Chelsea, Champions League qualification is there for the taking. Their opponents this weekend, who finished third last year, are about to take a step back.
Fifth place Arsenal, who strengthened but not in the areas that they need to, are ripe for leapfrogging as well. It’s just on Manchester United now to rise up and carpe diem.
Summer Transfer Window Analysis/Season Previews
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Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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