With the transfer window now closed, Jose Mourinho is ready to take Manchester United forward into the first half of the season.
Their season could not have started in better fashion with the Red Devils winning their first three Premier League games to sit at the top of the table alongside Manchester City and Chelsea.
What they needed
The squad Mourinho inherited from Louis van Gaal was simply not good enough to challenge for the title, so the Portuguese manager made it clear he wanted to make four signings at his official unveiling as new manager. Last season, United were lacking in various areas across the pitch, most notably in the attacking areas as United struggled to find the back of the net.
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It was not just a problem scoring the goals either; the midfielders simply did not create enough chances for the forwards. Van Gaal’s tactics are arguably to blame for this but plain and simple, 49 goals in a season is nowhere near enough for a club like United. Defensively, the Red Devils need a physically imposing central defender to help Chris Smalling, who was a standout performer during last season.
What they got
The first signing of the Mourinho era was defender Eric Bailly from Spanish side Villarreal. Already, the Ivory Coast international has a hit among the fans for his strong physical presence at the heart of the United defence. Next came the one and only Zlatan Ibrahimović, and all football fans know what he brings to the table. A world-class striker is exactly what United need to propel themselves up the table.
We have not seen the best of Henrikh Mkhitaryan just yet, but the Armenian has given the fans glimpses of his ability. If the former Dortmund man can find his best form, United have a creative genius on their hands. The final signing was the return of Paul Pogba to the club, the one that got away from Sir Alex Ferguson. The Frenchman is set to be key to United’s title hopes this season if he can stay fit and produce consistent form.
Money spent
United showed they are a force in the transfer market with the money they spent over the summer, splashing close to £150 million. The majority of that fee went towards paying a world record fee of £89.3 million to bring Pogba back to Old Trafford. United got the bargain of the transfer window having secured Ibrahimović on a free transfer, after his contract with PSG expired at the end of last season.
The Red Devils are rumoured to have spent £30 million on Bailly, a fee which may appear quite large now for an unproven defender, but if he can hold his place in the United lineup for close to the next decade it will be money well spent. Mkhitaryan’s fee is one that has been spread across a wide range of values by multiple sources, but no matter the figure, he is a player who possesses great quality.
Overview
United got their business done early which allowed the squad to settle in the early parts of the transfer window. Doing so enabled new manager Mourinho the opportunity to implement his game style into the players and the Red Devils have got straight down to business in the early stages of the season.
United’s right full-back position was up for review all summer, with multiple reports indicating Matteo Darmian was set to leave with Monaco’s Fabinho set to arrive. Neither deal eventuated.
The squad Mourinho has put together should hold United in good stead for the entire season.
Grade: A
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