The crew discussed Manchester United wanting to start over, as well as the reluctance of the consultant to work with him. There is a time and a place for it. It's unlikely that the former Ajax coach would have expected to start preseason training with a squad weaker than the one that finished last season in the bottom half of the table. As Ten Hag and his players got down to business on the first day of training at Carrington on Monday, Ten Hag was already playing catch-up with other teams. Five players have left United this summer as out-of-contract free agents, but no money has been raised. While sources have told ESPN that a deal for Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong is progressing, United have been down the road before trying to sign a player. The power struggle of Man United.
- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access
They have wasted crucial time in delivering stability and certainty that Ten Hag and his team undoubtedly need going into the 2022-23 campaign if they accelerate their transfer dealings.
OnlyChelsea have been similarly inactive in the transfer market so far. The sale of the club to L.A. Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly was a significant factor in their lack of recruitment.
After beating the world's biggest clubs to sign Erling Haaland, City are close to completing a deal worth up to £50m for KalvinPhillips, which would make them the most expensive club in the world. The long-term replacement for Fernandinho is thought to be a player from Yorkshire.
The success of last season, which included two domestic cups and near-misses in the premier league, led to the completion of a deal which could eventually rise to £85m for Benfica's Darwin Nunez. There have been additions to the squad, which has seen significant departures from Sadio Mane and Divock Origi, as well as new arrivals.
Spurs have made an impressive start to their business by adding Yves Bissouma from Seagulls, Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan, as well as backup goalkeeper Fraser Forster, in order to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. New faces have been added to Mikel Arteta's squad with the signings of Porto'sFabio Vieira and United States goalkeeper Matt Turner.
Getting deals done early in the transfer market isn't just about appeasing supporters and ensuring a regular stream of positive news from the club, it's also about making a big statement of intent in the transfer market. It's important to plan on and off the field.
Every coach would want all new signings to be in place before the start of preseason, because they have the time and space to implement new ideas and integrate new signings without the distraction of competition. In warm-up games and on the training pitch, new tactics can be tried out and players can get to know one another. While summer tours all over the globe can be punishing in terms of travel and fatigue, the value of being away in camp for 1-2 weeks means that relationships can be forged before the real action starts.
Transfer business is important for players off the field. While fans only see what a player does on the field, it is only a small portion of their time at the club, as well as finding a school for the children and adjusting to a new language. Most clubs attempt to take care of most off-field concerns for new signings, but there are always problems and it's important to resolve them correctly. Being asked to get all of the above sorted in mid-August, when the season has kicked off and the player is training and travelling to games, is a tall order and doesn't lend itself to a successful outcome.
The summer signings have been given the chance to get deals done early so they can get used to their new surroundings. It is possible for the coaching staff to get to know their new player and tailor a training programme for them. The clock is running and United has already seen a valuable month pass by without a player signing.
When United flies to Thailand on July 8 for the start of their preseason tour, it will take them months to get to Bangkok. United have made Ten Hag's job even harder by not getting early deals done.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
