Roy Keane proven right with transfer prediction as Manchester United left playing catch-up

We might only be just over a week into the summer transfer window, but already Manchester United find themselves playing catch up to their rivals.

This was always going to be a difficult summer for Erik ten Hag. Last season’s horror show has left him with a mountain of work to do, and far from the ideal platform in which to do it.

United’s failure to land a top-four spot was always going to be a hindrance this summer, although their new manager perhaps didn’t expect things to be quite so difficult. Their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong isn’t quite going to plan, with Barcelona playing hardball over the midfielder’s fee, while reports are suggesting their interest in Jurrien Timber and Christian Eriksen could be all for nothing.

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All the while, their rivals are making hay. Manchester City have already made perhaps the signing of the summer in Erling Haaland and look to have more players in the pipeline, while Liverpool have added Darwin Nunez – beating United to the striker’s signature – and look to be on the verge of promising youngster Calvin Ramsay.

Tottenham have also been busy, signing Ivan Perisic and Yves Bissouma – yet another player that had been linked with a move to Old Trafford. Even Arsenal have got in on the act, with Fabio Vieira making the switch from Porto.

You only have to take a glance at United fans on social media to get a feeling of how anxious they’re getting at their club’s lack of transfer activity so far. It perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise to them though, given Roy Keane’s prediction last month.

“Whatever their problems, they have to look at where Man City are, where Liverpool are,” Keane said while