The transfer window is a game of dominoes and narratives and one such narrative is repeating itself for the second year in a row for Manchester United, and a positive one at that.
Man Utd’s transfer window can be called an unqualified success so far, with the club acting with precision and clarity in landing Matheus Cunha via his release clause.
Bryan Mbeumo negotiations are ongoing but it would be a surprise if that move didn’t happen, and thus, the club will add 49 goals and assists to the squad.
The one negative of the window so far has been Liam Delap rejecting United for Chelsea. Even there, however, there’s a positive precedent because something similar happened last summer which led to a masterstroke in the long term.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Man Utd’s £70m snub that led to £52m masterstroke
Ineos inherited a mess at Man Utd on and off the pitch which is why they had quite a task to navigate the first transfer window in control last summer.
Nowhere was that determination to put things right more evident than in the deal for Jarrad Branthwaite that never was.
United put in a bid for the player but Everton’s asking price of £70 million never budged, as the Toffees put Harry Maguire’s fee to Leicester as the benchmark.
Undeterred, United walked away from Branthwaite in an effort to stop the narrative that United can be taken advantage of now.
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Not only did that send a message of competence, but United’s snub of Branthwaite led to them going full-steam ahead of Leny Yoro.
Yoro was signed from under Real Madrid’s noses for about £52 million, and by adding Matthijs de Ligt, United effectively signed two players for just over the price quoted for Branthwaite.
That was the start of United saying the club will no longer be held to ransom in the market. That opportunity has repeated itself this summer.
Man Utd can make good of Liam Delap’s rejection
United ended Branthwaite’s chase while Delap walked away from United but they probably would have got the player had they made a financial offer to blow rivals out of the water.
Instead, they let it happen and now the challenge awaits what they are pivoting towards.
Delap had question marks over him anyway so his rejection could age to be a blessing in disguise for United, and a long-term regret for him.
For United, Ineos can repeat the Branthwaite trick by pivoting towards a masterstroke of getting a better player more suited to the needs of the squad.
Nobody will shed tears over Delap’s rejection if United manage to offload well and sign Viktor Gyokeres in a move reminiscent of their signing Yoro and De Ligt after walking away from Branthwaite.
That has aged to be a masterstroke, and Ineos have a chance of repeating it now. It will solidify the message that the club is finally being run by shrewd and competent personnel.