In: Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David de Gea.
Out: Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Bebe (loan), Wes Brown, John O’Shea and Gabriel Obertan.
Analysis: all incoming business completed on July 1st, all outgoing completed a week later (bar Gabriel Obertan’s move to Newcastle). Transfer season ended before it really began for United, but they’ll hardly object. All three players came for £16,000,000-£18,000,000 - expensive, but worthy business. Phil Jones was extremely pricey, considering that he’s just 19 years of age and time will tell whether he was worth it, but the early signs are that he will prove to be. He has played 35 games in the Premier League, but it was still a big ask for him to step into the boots Nemanja Vidic, and though it was against depleted Arsenal and Spurs outfits, you could hardly tell any difference. It was a hefty price to pay for someone so young, but Sir Alex Ferguson is generally quite good at these things. Ashley Young has also made an instant impact, scoring the winner in their first game against West Brom and a brace against Arsenal (the first of which was an absolutely stunning strike). He has been a known talent for years, though there were some question marks as to whether he would step up to the level of Manchester United. He has played three good games, but he needs to keep this high level throughout the season. Then there is David de Gea. £18,000,000, and though he has not made much of an impression so far, I am in no doubt that he will become a fantastic goalkeeper for the Red Devils. He broke into the Atletico Madrid team when he was just 17, and it is a massive task for any player to play for Manchester United, especially for a 20 year old goalkeeper. I suspected, at first, that he would struggle with aerial bombardment from opposing teams, but he has not been subject to it so far. His errors appear just to stem from nerves, which he will soon get over and show his talent. I do think Manchester United missed a trick by not signing a central midfielder - not a Wesley Sneijder-type (whom they chased through the summer), but someone better than Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick. Phil Jones can play in defensive midfield, but that may leave them bare at centre half. Jonny Evans has been given another chance to show his talent - something he did not do last season - but he is not the quality United want or need. They are short in places, but those around them are not strong enough, just as they weren’t last season, to make those flaws into issues. The Premier League crown will remain in the Old Trafford trophy cabinet, barring a minor miracle.