Manchester United deadline day deals should force Glazers into takeover decision

Since the Glazer family effectively put Manchester United on the market two transfer windows have passed in which half of the incomings completed at Old Trafford have been loan deals.

United were forced to scramble around in the bargain basement in January and so tight is the line they are treading with Financial Fair Play (FFP) controls that a summer-long pursuit of Sofyan Amrabat had to be redrawn as a temporary transfer in the final days of the window.

Old Trafford sources had insisted a net spend of only around £120million was viable this summer and the window has shut with that figure being hit. The loan signing of Amrabat could only be completed once an initial £15million had been banked from the sale of Dean Henderson, a 26-year-old goalkeeper who could make that fee look foolish if he returns to the England squad.

But by this stage, United were desperate and needed to find a way to turn water into wine. Altay Bayindir's €5million release clause at Fenerbahce was a gift that couldn't be ignored and in the final hours of the window, Ten Hag got the extra midfielder he wanted in Amrabat.

ALSO READ: United might already know their transfer priority for next year

Maybe the window will be marked down as a success now. United have a new first-choice goalkeeper, midfielder and striker, and more depth in midfield. They reacted nimbly to bring in cover at left-back in Sergio Reguilon.

But for a club with ambitions of challenging for the title, bringing in five loans in two windows looks like a case of poor squad and financial management. Some of the issues have been forced on United, but some have exposed more significant faultlines.

The FFP tightrope they are walking will remain a concern for now. United will hope