Manchester United have given their rivals a £450m head start in the transfer window

Manchester United's transfer window thus far has been all talk and no action.

The links, some spurious and others with substance, follow the club all year round and intensify in the summer. United have been frustrated in their efforts to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea while their interest in Harry Kane at Tottenham has been met by a Daniel Levy-shaped roadblock. There are other irons in the fire but nothing appears imminent.

In isolation that is no great cause for panic - it is still June and, while every club wants their business done swiftly, in reality that ambition is often a pipedream.

The issue facing Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford is the painfully slow takeover process that began in November and has progressed at a snail's pace since. An outcome seems no nearer now than a couple of months ago amid deadlines, repeat bids and two clear interested parties in Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

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Off-the-pitch bungling is hampering the on-pitch effort. United have a platform to build but are reaching a takeover tipping point. The need for squad reinforcements is clear but, hampered by uncertainty around ownership and budgets, Ten Hag and the recruitment department are working with one hand tied behind their back.

And, as we enter the meat of the transfer window and a return to pre-season, other clubs are beginning to steal a march. Liverpool have secured Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, Chelsea have added Christopher Nkunku while Manchester City have signed Mateo Kovacic.

Arsenal have signed Kai Havertz and Declan Rice is set to follow. Newcastle are close to acquiring Sandro Tonali, while Tottenham confirmed the