John Murtough's Barcelona gripe and stunning Ralf Rangnick - how Manchester United recovered in a frantic transfer window

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with Leicester, they were not the club in disarray as Brendan Rodgers awoke and wondered which sellable assets might be withdrawn from his squad. James Maddison was suggested to United, his boyhood club.

Previously, United had never spent more than £150million for permanent signings in a single window. Their 2014 record of £149.5m was shattered, with £225.4m invested in four additions.

That figure was warranted in a summer of a squad rebuild. United are satisfied with securing five major signings as part of what well-placed sources understatedly describe as a "significant squad refresh".

Erik ten Hag has been backed like no other United manager. Apart from the United board vetoing an approach for the Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech (only regarded as a back-up option), Ten Hag enjoyed a near-fully supportive first window as the club broke the £200m barrier in a summer for the first time.

Antony surpassed Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni as the record signing