REUTERS/Phil Noble
When Ainsley-Maitland Niles' stunning strike nestled in Senne Lammens' top left in Everton's final attempt to steal a point from Manchester United, it just about summed up the start of Michael Carrick's first full season.
No one's at their panic station just yet, although there is a sense of Deja Vu beginning to kick in, but Carrick does need to find the winning formula when visiting the likes of Hull City and Everton. With Man United's ambitions, these are games that he must be winning.
Some will point the blame towards those beyond the manager, though. Some will point at INEOS and ask where the signings were in the summer. By the time the deadline passed, United had welcomed five fresh faces with only three of those set to play a serious part in the senior setup this season.
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Man Utd's summer signings Nationality Previous Club Fee
Carlos Baleba Cameroon Brighton £70m
Andrey Santos Brazil Chelsea £48m
Youri Tielemans Belgium Aston Villa £35m
Tynan Thompson England Tottenham £4m
Karl Darlow England Leeds United Free
The midfield was successfully revamped. For that, INEOS deserve plenty of credit. Beyond that, however, a left-back did not arrive and neither did any extra star power in Carrick's frontline.
So it's only natural after shock defeat at Hull, a smashing victory over Ipswich Town and an agonising draw against Everton that some attention is already turning towards the January transfer window.
Names like Lewis Hall are already back in the headlines and targets like Mohamed Kader Meite are suddenly ones to watch. After failing to match the spending of their rivals in the summer, INEOS could make up for it in full this winter.
Man Utd plotting January move to sign Meite
REUTERS/Stringer
As reported by TeamTalk, Man United are now plotting a January move to sign Meite from Al-Hilal. The Red Devils were already in contact with the forward's agent, and while Al-Hilal blocked an exit in the summer, they are facing another decision in the winter window.
This time, new sporting director and former Liverpool man Richard Hughes will be in charge of any negotiations. If Man United re-open talks with the 18-year-old's representatives, it will be down to Hughes to decide whether to cash-in on the 6 foot 4 attacker or stand firm.
For United, it's the chance to welcome another future star. With Benjamin Sesko already primed to lead the line for years to come, Meite could act as the perfect partner in crime.
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Mohamed Kader Meite senior career so far Games Goals Assists
Al-Hilal 12 2 0
Stade Rennais 32 5 2
Dubbed a "wonderful talent" by French football expert Julian Laurens, a move to Old Trafford would be the perfect way for Meite to get his return to Europe.
He's far from the finished product, but he doesn't have to be in this current Man United side. Crucially, he would have time to find his feet before joining an attack already full of talented stars.
Whether Al-Hilal are willing to change their sale stance in January remains the biggest sticking point, however.