When Ralf Rangnick read Manchester United had bid for Marko Arnautovic he was convinced it was a media invention. There was tragicomic irony in United pursuing forwards associated with Rangnick, Arnautovic's coach in the Austria national side, when his consultancy contract was shredded before it became active.
Rangnick is understood to have been astonished by United's approach in the market. The former interim manager has become a cause celebre for the fanbase; the objective troubleshooter who diagnosed open-heart surgery and advised United sign 10 new players.
They signed six. Also read: Why United splashed the cash late on United are in a better place at the start of September than at the start of August.
In their inconveniently scheduled deadline day fixture with Leicester, they were not the club in disarray as Brendan Rodgers awoke and wondered which sellable assets might be withdrawn from his squad.