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The Manchester United hierarchy is unhappy with how the club’s summer transfer window played out, with the Red Devils missing out on several key targets.
All of the optimism that surrounded Man Utd at the start of this season has gone up in smoke. Michael Carrick’s team have endured their worst start to a season in 40 years, and pressure on the head coach is mounting.
The Old Trafford club have won just once in the Premier League so far – a crazy 5-2 game against Ipswich that could also have panned out differently had the Tractor Boys taken their chances.
Embarrassing losses to Hull City and 10-man Man City in the Premier League, as well as surrendering a 2-0 home advantage against Brighton in the Carabao Cup, have been the low points of this season, but it’s not like the other games have been much better.
On Saturday, Man Utd played out their third draw of the campaign when they conceded a last-gasp equaliser against a rock-bottom Tottenham side that was playing with 10 men. All told, the Red Devils have taken just six points from six games.
Man Utd’s summer mistakes
In the wake of this torrid start to 2026/27, The Sun claims that club bosses at Man Utd now “privately” admit that this summer transfer window did not live up to expectations.
The midfield was the club’s biggest construction site, but instead of pursuing marquee names as they did last year when they revamped their attack, Man Utd had to settle for market opportunities.
Carlos Baleba, who was signed at something of a knockdown price due to injury and a poor prior season, was the only player considered a top target for the club. Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, on the other hand, were “a long way down the list.”
Neither has really set the world alight. In fact, Santos has barely played, only racking up 83 minutes in the Premier League thus far. He has been an unused substitute in three consecutive games.
Particularly damaging was the collapse of Ederson’s transfer. Man Utd carried out extra examinations after his medical flagged a possible knee issue and ultimately pulled out of a €45 million deal for the Brazil international.
Instead of renegotiating the price, they simply moved on to different targets, which looks to have been a major mistake. Ederson subsequently signed a new contract at Atalanta and has been fit enough to start every game this season as captain.
In hindsight, the failure to sign a new left-back is also viewed as problematic. Man Utd wanted Lewis Hall, but Newcastle refused to entertain a sale. Transfers for Alejandro Balde and Rayan Ait-Nouri were also briefly explored and ultimately came to nothing.
The injury-prone Luke Shaw, who had an outlier season in terms of his fitness last term, has already missed several games and training sessions, forcing Carrick to use Patrick Dorgu, who has primarily played as a winger and is currently injured, and Noussair Mazraoui at left-back.
Man Utd spent more than €170m on new signings this summer, yet they seem to be happy with just Baleba – who only made his debut against Spurs and can’t really be judged yet.
It is no surprise that the boos of Man Utd supporters on Saturday were directed at Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his coterie of directors rather than Carrick.
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