Manchester United are doing the same thing again in the transfer window

A galling away defeat in the second weekend of the season, cue movement for a midfielder. That was just Manchester United last August.

United did not need Tottenham's matchwinner Pape Sarr and man of the match Yves Bissouma to ride roughshod over them to know their squad is light. Two goalkeepers were named on the bench at Spurs as Erik ten Hag discounted Donny van de Beek and Brandon Williams as they plot exit strategies. Hannibal Mejbri, a starter for the Under-21s on Friday night, was overlooked.

“This is the left-back, look at the position, look at the run!” Tottenham tweeted on Monday. The post was accompanied by a clip of Destiny Udogie bypassing Mason Mount and Casemiro, having seen off Antony, brushed off Bruno Fernandes and ghosted Alejandro Garnacho. Mejbri, a truculent character, would have at least tried to halt Udogie as he scythed through United's feckless front six.

With Mejbri in Manchester, the broadcasters homed in on a stern-faced Scott McTominay, sat on the bench as full-time loomed on Saturday. Gary Neville, who is becoming more impassioned than impartial in commentary gantries, queried why the Scot had not emerged.

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"Does he go back to McTominay?" Neville asked rhetorically. Ten Hag has made five substitutions and not used him. It's almost as if he is managing him out of the club."

McTominay is a bustling midfielder but United were not crying out for the Scot. Even introducing Anthony Martial was more logical.

Martial had not played in 12 weeks and he is not a super-sub striker to instil dread. “They are bringing on Martial," Roy Keane despaired. "You might as well bring on Frank Stapleton and Norman Whiteside.” Martial's warm-up was