Manchester United transfer state of play: Maguire, midfielders and more activity

The summer transfer window closes at 11pm UK time on Friday in England. At Manchester United, the club feel that they did their incoming business early in signing midfielder Mason Mount, goalkeeper Andre Onana and forward Rasmus Hojlund, who is expected to feature in games from now on having arrived with a back injury.

United spent £163 million ($205 million) before add-ons on that trio and the club are happy with where they are in the window. Experienced defender Jonny Evans, 35, is expected to sign a one-year deal.

It’s a long way from a decade ago when United chased players all summer and didn’t sign one until Marouane Fellaini completed a move from Everton minutes before the deadline. Then, United were champions. Now, United haven’t won the league since 2013.

There will be more activity this week. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson will join Crystal Palace. It was thought he would stay at United after a move to Nottingham Forest didn’t materialise by the start of August; United will replace Henderson with Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce for a fee of €5 million ($5.4 million).

Injuries to the first and second-choice left backs, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, have given Erik ten Hag and his staff a dilemma.

United are deciding whether the solution is an internal one with Diogo Dalot switching flanks, as he did against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The other option is to use Alvaro Fernandez, a 20-year-old Spaniard, who impressed on loan at Championship side Preston North End last season and featured in the first team pre-season.

There has been no shortage of agents willing to link their left-backs with United. Sources at Barcelona said they would be extremely surprised if Marcos Alonso left the club to join United on loan.

Sever