Manchester United had their best transfer window for who they sold as much as who they bought

When Donny van de Beek first settled in Manchester during the Covid-19 pandemic, he was holed up in a house owned by United that was quickly dubbed 'Covid Towers'. Like Rapunzel, Van de Beek's talent is perhaps trapped in that tower.

A reunion with Erik ten Hag nor an undeserved three-match run in November have jolted Van de Beek, his form in Ajax's captivating Champions League semi-finalists as distant as it is moot.

Van de Beek is not necessarily second in the pecking order for the No.10 behind the tireless Bruno Fernandes, either. Mason Mount is proven that role and has cut it in the Premier League. Van de Beek didn't for Everton, never mind United.

In the mudbath of the Optus Stadium in Perth last year, Van de Beek looked like someone who had turned up at Glastonbury but was expecting the opera of Glyndebourne. He did not play the same tune as his teammates in a pre-season draw with Aston Villa.

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Van de Beek's stock is so low he is practically unsellable. Injured since January 3, he has managed four meaningful Premier League starts in three years with United and no right-minded Premier League club would touch Van de Beek with a bargepole.

Ajax owe United one for fleecing them of £140million for Lisandro Martinez and Antony. An Ajax homecoming would be logical for Van de Beek as a professional and lifestyle choice. Van de Beek has spent almost two years in exile from the Netherlands national side and there is another European Championship next year. He missed the last one through injury and has not been named in a squad since.

The difficulties United will encounter in shifting players is nothing new but they did once purge