Sofyan Amrabat is proof Manchester United are still struggling with their main transfer issue

Manchester United have made a habit of dragging out transfers and while much of this summer's business was done swiftly, their move for Sofyan Amrabat was anything but.

Erik ten Hag made no secret of his desire to add more defensive strength to his midfield unit, with cover and competition for Casemiro badly needed.

Amrabat's name was a regular in the gossip columns and the 27-year-old was constantly linked with the Reds while the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona were also mentioned. He was more than open to a move and Fiorentina were seemingly happy to cash in for the right price - which begs the question as to why it was not done sooner.

It's important not to over-simplify the process of signing a player, and modern supporters tend to use computer games as a reference point for the real world. But United showed in signing Mason Mount and Andre Onana how quickly they can get a deal over the line.

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It's also worth mentioning that a United official screwed up his face when Amrabat's name was mentioned during the pre-season tour. However, the opening-day win over Wolves made it clear United needed to bolster their options in the centre of the pitch.

Despite the evidence on show at Old Trafford on August 14, United waited until the final day of the window the add to their midfield ranks again and paid the price as a result.

Such is the nature of deadline-day deals, everyone involved is desperate. Buying clubs are scrambling to fill the last gaps in their squad while selling teams need to squeeze out every last pound in order to justify losing a player without having the time to replace them.

Financial concerns meant that United could only take