Though they have been blindsided by injuries, Manchester United only have themselves to blame for a transfer window that once looked so promising ultimately underwhelming.
United eventually got their business done on deadline day. Altay Bayindir was signed for £5m, Sofyan Amrabat and Sergio Reguilon were recruited in last-gasp loan deals and Jonny Evans has signed on for the season but the club's scrambling gave off a familiar feeling of desperation.
Erik ten Hag has finally got his new midfielder but why did he not get him earlier? Amrabat has been available all summer but again United have left things until the last moment. The lack of a defensive midfielder has already been detrimental in the opening games of the season.
Financial stability restrictions have limited United's spending and meant they had to find a workaround with loan moves on deadline day, but it's a problem of their own making. United have been utterly dreadful at selling players for years and it finally came back to bite them this summer.
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United earmarked several players for departures in the window. They didn't get nearly as much as they wanted from the ones they did manage to sell and most remain at the club. The inability to raise funds meant United couldn't spend further and it has left them with holes in the squad.
Defence in particular was looking light on options following injuries to Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Raphael Varane but at least those gaps have been plugged.
Reguilon's arrival covers the left-back situation and Evans makes a frail centre-back situation a little more solid. United were only one more injury away from having Maguire back in the side, a player
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