Manchester United's last-minute acquisitions during transfer window don't solve their defense woes
It is safe to say Manchester United didn't have the greatest of transfer windows despite Ed Woodward's thoughts of how the side had learned to navigate and make wise decisions with their signings. With a season that's already testing their limits, the Red Devils acquisitions raised some eyebrows and garnered mixed opinions when they roped in veteran Edinson Cavani. The addition of Alex Telles was well-appreciated while Amad Diallo Traore was considered as one for the future.
They never got Jadon Sancho. For all the negotiations and the headlines around Sancho, he finally staying back at Borussia Dortmund after being unable to match up to his price tag, they now have three buys in Cavani (free transfer), Telles (£13.5M/ $24.4M) and Traore (£36M/ $46M).
Cavani has not played any competitive football in seven months after being released by Paris Saint-Germain and will earn close to $15M a season with another $18M going in as agent's fees. Here's a quick look at the ins and outs of the side during the transfer window:
IN: Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, loan), Donny van de Beek (Ajax), Amad Traore (Atalanta, £22.5m/$29.1m), Alex Telles (Porto), Edinson Cavani (free agent), Facundo Pellistri (Atletico Penaroll).
OUT: Cameron Borthwick-Jackson (Released), Dion McGhee (Released), Angel Gomes (Released), Ethan Hamilton (Released), Michael O'Hara (Released), Largie Ramazani (Released), George Tanner (Released), Alexis Sanchez (Inter Milan, free), Tahith Chong (Werder Bremen, loan), Alex Fojticek (Blackpool, free), Joel Pereira (Huddersfield Town, loan), Dylan Levitt (Charlton, loan), Kieran O'Hara (Burton, free), James Garner (Watford, loan), Aliou Traore (Caen, loan), Diogo Dalot (AC Milan, loan), Andreas Pereira (Lazio, loan)
However, these acquisitions still don't address United's center-back issues and defense has been their Achilles heel this season so far. Plus, a frantic final day dash signals their lack of preparation with their back-up options. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has surely not got the players he wanted and that may be a decisive factor as the season progresses. Coming back to their defense, their standing at the moments says it all. They're placed 16th on the points table with three games. Barring the win against Brighton, they lost to Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur.
First, they lost 1-3 to Crystal Palace and registered a win against Brighton only to suffer a major shellacking at the hands of Jose Mourinho's Spurs. The next few games for United will be a test of their strength and a chance for the new signings to prove their mettle. United face Newcastle on October 17 followed by a clash with Paris Saint-Germain at the UEFA Champions League and then Chelsea. Tough days ahead for Solskjaer as he and United hope to get back on track and hope their new additions fire.
What are your thoughts on Manchester United's acquisitions during the transfer window?