Manchester United's bizarre transfer policy gives Glazers three weeks to change

An opening day defeat, a mass protest, and an embarrassing transfer climbdown.

To say it has been an eventful start to the season for Manchester United would be an understatement. The club, despite freeing itself of much of its deadwood over the summer finds itself in a worse position than it did 12 months ago, when they were still without the signings of Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The appointment of Erik ten Hag back in April was meant to give United the best possible chance of competing, both on the pitch and in the summer transfer market from the off. While there is no denying that Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Brighton was a disappointing start for the Dutchman, the club's failings in the transfer market is guaranteed to produce more lasting scars than a second defeat in three months to Graham Potter's side will.

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With a less than a month to go until the window closes, United's squad remains several additions away from being competitive at the top end of the table. The club's pursuit of Frenkie de Jong has dominated the summer, although their shock interest in Marko Arnautovic — which has since been ditched — will stick in the memory for some time.

As things stand, United have completed three signings this summer: Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen. They have all improved their respective positions, but are not additions that will be enough to take United back into the Champions League places.

Martinez and Malacia are complete unknowns to the Premier League and Eriksen has never experienced winning a trophy in English football. A quick glance at the summer recruitment of United's biggest rivals, however, paints an even