Ryan Gravenberch to Liverpool FC move flags up previous transfer mistake at Manchester United

It might feel more like Groundhog Day than deadline day for Manchester United.

Having promptly snapped up Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund for a combined £180million outlay, there has been a growing sense of frustration at Old Trafford in the final days of the summer transfer window. That can be summed up by an impending £34.2m switch close to completion down the road at Anfield.

Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch - on the radar for United this month - is due to sign for Liverpool and in doing so will follow international teammate Cody Gakpo in making that same decision. Had things turned out a bit differently, the double Dutchmen might have, instead, headlined the ongoing Erik ten Hag rebuild.

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Despite holding firm interest in Gakpo last summer, United maintain they were not side-stepped by Gakpo during the January transfer window when he, eventually, touched down in the Premier League for around £37m from PSV Eindhoven. That he would have been road-blocked by Marcus Rashford is a completely feasible concept.

Rashford had the season of his career under Ten Hag and shone brightly on the left-hand flank Gakpo also prefers. Gakpo soon went on to underline his potential as a centre-forward and No.10 with three goals at the winter World Cup and has even been deployed as a No.8 by Liverpool amid their midfield woes.

Of course, that is exactly what Gravenberch has been brought in to address, but United have had their own issues in the three areas where Gakpo has been utilised by Jurgen Klopp beyond his main