Manchester United’s haphazard summer transfer window resulting in four deadline day signings once again exposed the incompetence by those making the key footballing decisions at Old Trafford.
United secured deals to sign veteran striker Edinson Cavani, exciting left-back Alex Telles and two potential stars for the future in Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri.
But the problems that were outlined at the start of the summer were not solved and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has began another campaign with his squad short.
According to a damming report by ESPN‘s Mark Ogden, the club failed to deliver any of Solskjaer’s prime first-team targets in the transfer window as they scrambled to complete deals late on.
It is noted by Ogden that Solskjaer drew up an initial shortlist of players he wanted to sign including Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho.
Solskjaer is also said to have wanted a new central defender and Nathan Ake, who signed for Man City, and RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano were both viewed as possible new partners for Harry Maguire.
While the Norwegian boss did sanction the subsequent transfers, he will surely be just as frustrated as the fanbase that the club could not finalise deals for players that could have seriously improved his squad.
Of course, Solskjaer and his players have to take responsibility for an awful start to the season with eleven goals conceded and two home defeats in three league matches.
But there is a common theme that United managers are left without their priority targets and Solskjaer now has an uphill task to deliver Champions League football this season.
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