If we know only one thing just days into the official summer transfer window, it’s that Riben Amorim and Manchester United have the look of a club already being left behind.
And that’s not just because the only player they’ve signed so far is £65million Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha.
The real issue is one United can no longer control and it’s a painful one for their legion of fans around the globe.
Man United Struggling to Compete for Big Signings
Cherki and Wirtz have already joined their arch-rivals
Rayan Cherki in action for Manchester City
Years of on-and off-field decline mean many of the big-name stars on the move this summer want the chance to win big and have a platform to scale football’s summit personally and collectively.
With attacking wide men Antony, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho all up for sale United’s priority should, perhaps, have been to be in the conversation for Lyon winger Rayan Cherki - in the final year of his contract and an absolute bargain at £30.5 million.
Even more so after his electrifying performance at Old Trafford in the stunning 5-4 Europa League quarter-final win for Amorim’s men when the Frenchman sparkled magnificently.
But in explaining his decision to make the move to Manchester with Pep Guardiola’s City, Cherki laid out his career ambition to load his trophy cabinet with silverware and even win the Ballon d’Or.
After their lowest ever Premier League finish (15th) and disarray everywhere you look, United can’t offer that kind of opportunity to any player, no matter how good they might be.
If losing out to a player of Cherki’s talent hurts, being unable to compete for new £116 million Liverpool star Florian Wirtz exposed another example of United’s embarrassing tumble from football’s top table.
Even before the domination of Sir Alex Ferguson era, United always had the financial muscle to break the British transfer record - which they have done six times.
From Denis Law’s move from Torino for £115,000 in 1962 to Paul Pogba’s £89 million switch from Juventus in 2016 United spectacularly splashed the cash with Bryan Robson, Andy Cole, Juan Sebastian Veron and Rio Ferdinand also record buys in between.
Rio Ferdinand
Nowadays, years of financial mis-management means United simply cannot match the type of outlay arch-rivals Liverpool have made on Wirtz.
United were already trailing Liverpool, who matched Old Trafford’s 20 League titles last month.
Now with the arrival of Wirtz, defender Jeremie Frimpong and the imminent signing of Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez it feels United are further away than ever from having a squad to match the one at Anfield.
Chelsea’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup means they have already been busy in the transfer window while Champions-League bound Arsenal and Newcastle chase targets.
It all adds to the feeling United are on the outside looking in.
Their failure so far to generate funds for new signings by selling big-name players Amorim no longer wants is only adding to the frustration.
United seem miles away from being able to close in on so-called targets like strikers Hugo Ekitike and Viktor Gyokeres.
And if Amorim looks back at past summer windows he’ll be shocked to find that, under former recruitment regimes, United have had a history of fruitless chases, panic signings and late arrivals.
With technical director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada now at the helm under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Amorim will be hoping for better. But history should tell him: Don’t hold your breath.
Man Utd Chiefs Delighted With Ayden Heaven
Belief he's saved United £25m+
Ayden Heaven in action for Manchester United
There were few bright spots in a dark season at Old Trafford but the rapid emergence of centre-half Ayden Heaven was smart business and an unexpected bonus.
With Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans both gone, Heaven’s performances since his £1.8 million switch from Arsenal in January may have saved United upwards of £25 million in the transfer market.
Had Heaven not shown such composure and promise in the six games he played after joining, United may have had to dive into the summer window for a centre-back.
Now, with Heaven joining Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Leny Yoro, Amorim looks decently stocked with defenders to play in a back three, with Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw also able to fill in.
Longer term, training ground sources at United say, Yoro and Heaven are being earmarked to be a centre-back pairing for years to come.
Kobbie Mainoo's United Contract Talks Continue
The youngster needs to win Amorim's trust again
Mainoo
The speedy rise of Kobbie Mainoo peaked at Euro 2024 when he played in six of England’s seven matches including the 2-1 final defeat to Spain in Berlin.
Last season the 20-year-old midfielder juggled injuries and loss of form in a season where he played only 37 of United’s 60 games.
After impressive England displays at Euro 2024, Mainoo was not part of Thomas Tuchel’s plans this summer.
Kobbie Mainoo's statistics for Manchester United this season
Worryingly, Mainoo was also only picked to start two of United’s final seven games and in the doomed Europa Final against Tottenham in Bilbao the youngster was a 89th-minute substitute.
With discussions on an improved contract on-going and plenty of debate exactly which position best suits Mainoo in Ruben Amorim’s system, the midfielder is facing a big season.
And it seems he has to win the trust of Amorim again to be a regular starter after appearing to lose his way after a spectacular entrance to the Premier League with United.
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All statistics according to Sofascore and Transfermarkt - correct as of 22-06-25.