Manchester United could make good on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's transfer window prediction

“I’m not confident that we’ll solve all the problems in the first transfer window,” Sir Jim Ratcliffe said. He was right.

Manchester United have a potentially dynamic duo in Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte but a pedestrian pairing of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen as cover. Their substitute wingers against Liverpool could be Marcus Rashford and Antony, symbols of extravagant expenditure.

United still have a goalscoring problem and their only attacking addition this summer was a substitute striker with a release clause. Joshua Zirkzee has billed himself as a "nine-and-a-half" when United need a true nine.

Much is the same as last season. No fit specialist left back, a lack of goals, a barren midfield and an added-time defeat. Ratcliffe admitted in June he had encountered "lots of bad surprises" at United but "I see the problem as an opportunity".

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United were never going to rebuild their squad in a single summer and past relics still linger. They are saddled with Victor Lindelof, signed so long ago Theresa May was the UK prime minister, and the Ineos cabal must have wished John Murtough had negotiated a two-year contract with the option of a third with Eriksen.

Casemiro is one of United's highest earners and will assume a squad player role in what has to be his final season at the club. It could be three strikes and Antony is out.

With the Ugarte deal, United have committed to investing £625.43million in signings under Erik ten Hag. This summer's total will rise to £206.06m with the eventual confirmation of Ugarte in a United shirt.

Even with Chelsea spending