Liverpool and Chelsea's £111million Moises Caicedo transfer battle shows Manchester United growth

Manchester United and transfer sagas have gone hand-in-hand in recent years.

We only have to look back to last summer's will he, won't he with Frenkie de Jong for evidence. Erik ten Hag was keen on bringing his former Ajax star to Old Trafford but Barcelona eventually eventually kept the 26-year-old.

A hurried pursuit of Adrien Rabiot then failed before the Reds spent big to lure Casemiro to the Premier League. Despite the Brazilian's brilliant first season, the window was far from smooth sailing.

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And so it makes a pleasant change to see United actively avoid the messy transfer scenarios which have unfolded this summer, the most recent of which is the bizarre Liverpool and Chelsea battle for Moises Caicedo. There will be some frustration among the Reds ranks to see Caicedo do so well in the Premier League when United had the opportunity to sign him in 2021, underlined further by Ten Hag's need to find a defensive midfielder to come in as competition and then a long term replacement for Casemiro.

But United have certainly made the right decision in not getting involved in the £100m+ race for Caicedo this summer. At £111m, the price tag is extraordinary and Ten Hag was right to prioritise other more affordable deals to ensure signings were in place ahead of the season.

Such an approach to the market was also evidence with United steering clear of the battle for Declan Rice and Harry Kane, once it was established the Tottenham Hotspur forward would not be sold to a Premier League rival. Instead, Ten Hag has been smart and looked