Manchester United did not sign a midfielder this summerplaceholder image
Manchester United did not sign a midfielder this summer | Manchester United via Getty Images
Man Utd did not manage to sign a midfielder in the summer transfer window.
The transfer window is shut and Manchester United fans now know exactly what their side has to work with for the rest of the season. Ruben Amorim could persuade club chiefs to back him with more money in the January transfer window, but for now, the squad is locked in place for most of the campaign.
United prioritised an attacking overhaul in the summer after they decided it was the position that held them back the most across last season. Almost £200m was spent to bring Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko to the club. A deal for Diego Leon was struck back in January to sign another emerging talent, while Senne Lammens was a long-term target they couldn't turn down when he was available late in the window.
Club chiefs acknowledge the need for a long-term rebuild of the squad and were well aware it would be impossible to address every issue across one window. It was more a case of getting through as much as they could in the time available, before continuing it next year.
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It means that although United looked at several midfield targets, they were unable to get one. They will be in the market for at least two next summer, with Casemiro set to leave as a free agent, Bruno Fernandes still a target for Saudi clubs, doubts over Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo uncertain about his future at Old Trafford. They might even need three.
The exact number will be impacted by the development of promising youngsters already on their books. Toby Collyer was sent on loan to Championship side West Brom, with the hope that regular football in the second-tier will either have him ready for a regular first-team role next season, or will see him drum up enough interest to be sold for a significant fee.
Sekou Kone wasn't sent on loan though, after plans were scrapped for him to join Enzo Kana-Biyik at Swiss side Lausanne-Sport. The 19-year-old impressed Amorim and his coaches during the post-season trip to Asia and decided his development would be better suited in-house, with regular performances for the U21s and involvement in first-team training sessions.
Even after a year in English football, Kone is still an extremely raw talent and has plenty of work to do in order to fine-tune his game, but there is no denying the huge potential he also has to offer. The teenager is expected to return to action wearing a protective mask after he fractured his eye socket in a U21 match that was abandoned last month, and will return to a United side in need of midfield reinforcement.
He is now the sixth-choice midfielder at first-team level, arguably even fifth when you consider Mason Mount is much better in an attacking midfield role. Although they will play a reduced fixture schedule this season, it seems highly likely Kone will benefit from some senior squad involvement and even a potential debut before the end of the campaign.
A loan exit will no doubt be considered again before the January transfer window, but the Malian midfielder will hope that by then he is too valuable for them to let go. If United need three midfielders for next season, Kone could be one of them.
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