Manchester United’s transfer window is over and the debate is ongoing over just how good or bad it was.
While we all know that the true test of Manchester United’s transfer window will be on the pitch, the day after Deadline Day is a chance to judge the club’s summer business.
United demonstrated a habit of pulling transfer surprises from nowhere in 2026, and so fans entered Deadline Day expecting one more deal.
There were no late deals.
Here are my thoughts on the totality of United’s 2026 transfer window.
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I loved the business United did complete
Before the window I ranked the areas United needed to strengthen and central midfield was by far and away the absolute top priority.
Thankfully United realised this as well, recognising that quantity was required. I was hoping for three first team additions, and that’s what we got.
The combination of Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos is a really interesting mix as there is no pre-established hierarchy based on price.
For instance, if United had spent £120 million on a player, they would by default be the starter.
This may create some problems as there may take some time to find the better partnership, but add in Kobbie Mainoo too and United have four equals in midfield who can share the load.
To land all three midfield signings for under £150 million is genuinely incredible business in this market.
I’d give the midfield reinforcements an A grade.
But I cannot grade the whole window above the C mark.
Failure to sign a left-back
Marcus Rashford staying at United meant that left-wing disappeared from the list of areas to improve, and left-back became the next most important.
United fans are not fooled easily. We know that Luke Shaw playing 38 league games last season was a total outlier, and not one that can be repeated.
Shaw has proven that he cannot hold up playing twice-per-week. We should not castigate him for that, instead we should plan around it.
The failure to sign a left-back was an own goal for two reasons. (A) it leaves United without adequate cover for Luke Shaw, and (B) it increases the likelihood of Shaw being overplayed and then breaking down.
United supporters were crying out for a deal for a left-back and to end the window without one is a big disappointment.
Lack of imagination
United’s midfield additions were impressive and it was good to see the club buck the Premier League trend of over-paying for players.
The best deal last summer was Manchester United’s transfer for Senne Lammens, who cost £18 million.
Lammens was relatively unheard-of, and turned into the best signing of the summer.
This summer there were no similar low-cost gambles.
United were linked to Club Brugge’s top scoring striker and Belgian international left-back, and linked to Racing Santander’s promising left-back too.
Speculative links were as far as it went. United did not pursue the deals. That was disappointing to see, especially considering the clear need.
United did the minimum required, really. It was a case of filling spots vacated by Casemiro, and Manuel Ugarte’s injury – plus one.
There was no creativity applied to bolster the squad even at low expense.
The Louis Page miss
Ineos were really looking to double down on midfield with a move for young prospect Louis Page. That is exactly the type of creativity I’m talking about.
Page, 18, is the type of young prospect who United have skipped on in the past and then lived to regret.
Adam Wharton and Michael Olise are two examples. Jude Bellingham is one who United tried for and failed.
Even a young Erling Haaland could have been bought for just £4 million.
United got really far down the track with the Page deal but left it until too late. That’s not good business.
The cat is now out of the bag with Page, and I fear that another Premier League or European club will sway his head with promises of more regular football.
United chose not to pay Leicester’s asking price of £12m + £3m in add-ons. His price is only likely to rise.
It reflects poorly on United to have identified this deal and then baulked at the cost. Is money really that tight?
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