Manchester United entered the January transfer window in precisely the same position as any other: doubts over the long-term future of the manager, an inability to fit current players into a coherent system, several expensive pieces of deadwood needing to leave and a flashing neon sign marked “holding midfielder” that described the pressing need.
In their defence, players have been cut from the squad, albeit only on temporary deals that simply kick the can slightly further down the road.
Anthony Martial began his Manchester United career with plenty of promise but waned badly, while Donny van de Beek’s barely began at all. But they are at least out of sight and out of mind.
The treatment of those two players was a sort of such intense discussion between supporters that a decision of any sort is a step in the right direction.
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Man Utd’s January transfers
In: n/a
Out: Teden Mengi (loan to Birmingham), Ethan Laird (loan to Bournemouth), Axel Tuanzebe (loan to Napoli), Anthony Martial (loan to Sevilla), Amad Diallo (loan to Rangers), Reece Devine (loan to Walsall), Donny van de Beek (on loan to Everton), Matej Kovar (loan to Burton)
Transfer window rating: 4
Some deadwood still remains. Phil Jones reportedly turned down a loan move to Bordeaux and Jesse Lingard must be furious about United’s demands to allow his loan exit.
If nothing else, let the experience of those two – and other – players be a warning to United that they must not sanction new contracts for fringe members of their first-team squad.
And so United will plod on, no problems solved but at least none badly exacerbated. They still need a central midfielder or two, they still need a definite identity, they still have highly talented but underperforming players and they still have at least four players whose futures must be decided definitively in the summer. Plus ca change.
This is an extract of The Score, Daniel Storey’s weekly verdict on all 20 Premier League teams’ performances. This week he takes a look at their dealings in the January transfer window. Sign up here to receive the newsletter every Monday morning
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