Manchester United have just missed out on their perfect transfer wildcard

With less than three weeks to go until Manchester United's opening game of pre-season, supporters are patiently awaiting the club's first signing of the summer transfer window.

Unless anything changes in the next seven days, United are going to go the third successive June without making a signing. The only way that risk might disappear is if they manage to thrash out terms with Chelsea to bring Mason Mount to Old Trafford.

It is the deal to bring Mount to M16 that United are, even if it is proving slow, making the most progress with so far this summer. Uncertainty surrounding the takeover situation means the Reds are having to play a patient game, even though it risks leaving them lagging behind their rivals.

Manager Erik ten Hag, who enjoyed a successful first season at the club, has grand ambitions to strengthen his squad this summer and build on the foundations that were laid in 2022/23. He has prioritised signing a midfielder and a world-class striker while the addition of a new first-choice goalkeeper is now high up on his wish list.

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As with any transfer window, patience will be required. But when United fans look round and see the progress Manchester City are making with Mateo Kovacic, the bids Arsenal have put on the table for Declan Rice and the fact Liverpool have already wrapped up the signing of Alexis MacAllister, you can understand their frustrations.

But with the takeover saga, which recently passed its seven-month anniversary, showing no signs of reaching its conclusion, it is hardly surprising that United have been slow out of the traps. It is not helping their pursuit of a world-class striker, though the club is understood to have resources in place to