Manchester United could finally do what Ralf Rangnick recommended in transfer market

The word from Manchester United is they wanted to spend more in the summer. They pleaded poverty until transfer deadline day, using funds from Dean Henderson's underwhelming £15million fee to recruit Sofyan Amrabat on loan.

It is just as well there was a cap on United's spending as they still do not spend well. Amrabat commanded a €10m fee and the only success of Matt Hargreaves's negotiation in Florence is he settled on a €20m option, rather than obligation, to buy the Moroccan midfielder.

There was predictable fanfare over Amrabat's arrival on social media. He had performed at a World Cup and tackled Kylian Mbappe. Never mind the red flags of playing for Erik ten Hag once upon a time at Utrecht or operating in a mediocre Serie A side (Fiorentina are eighth). Italy was a dumping ground for United rejects as recently as 2019.

Football director John Murtough may be on borrowed time as Dan Ashworth waits for the seasons to change in his garden but he is still leading United's recruitment planning ahead of the summer window. It remains to be seen if it is the same director-manager double act for a third summer running.

READ MORE: United still monitoring Everton duo

READ MORE: Players in the stands react as expected to Fernandes moment vs Everton

United will rightly point out Rasmus Hojlund was fulfilling his potential before his ill-timed injury last month and Andre Onana has been more secure since he returned from a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations. But then there is Mason Mount, certain to miss at least 27 games over a five-and-a-half month period.

Mount had injury issues last season as he approached the final year of his Chelsea contract. United still parted with £55m up front and for what? Four league starts, four