“In the period I've been here, I've noticed everyone wants to play for Manchester United,” Erik ten Hag said in May, as the club were on the cusp of Champions League qualification.
The Reds suffered their worst Premier League season in 2021/22 but the Dutchman was still able to lure Christian Eriksen, Antony, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez to Old Trafford.
United have a pulling power few can boast about, but that is not to say last summer was easy. Ten Hag, a new manager, had to wait to land Casemiro and only managed to seal Antony’s arrival on deadline day at a cost of £85m.
In all, £225m was spent and some are not convinced that, as a collective, the sum was value for money just yet. However, all permanent summer signings played important roles in the League Cup triumph and ultimately Champions League qualification.