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Reasons to be cheerful can be hard to come by as a Manchester United fan in the modern era, but over three quarters of the Red Army have a positive view of the club’s transfer activity.
This is according to a fan survey conducted by The Athletic, which found that 60% of United fans were “very happy” with the transfer window overall, and a further 16.5% merely “happy”.
Going into the season it was hard not to feel a frisson of excitement after an important job was done well by INEOS, and 94.6% of fans surveyed agree that recruitment is in better hands under the new structure.
Glaring issues were addressed with an efficiency that was desperately lacking under Ed Woodward’s scattergun approach, perpetuated by Richard Arnold and John Murtough, as the new football structure sought to avoid the ‘United tax’, and largely succeeded.
Joshua Zirkzee was brought in to bolster a faltering frontline, and has enjoyed a mixed start to his United career – coming off the bench to score the winner on the first day of the season was a dream debut, but missed chances in the 3-0 loss to Liverpool were a sobering reality check.
Manager Erik ten Hag was handed a right-back better suited to his style of play in Noussair Mazraoui and two top centre-backs to shore up the backline.
In Matthijs de Ligt United have a solid new addition, while 18-year-old Leny Yoro was a genuine transfer coup as one of Europe’s hottest properties was snapped up from under Real Madrid’s noses.
INEOS also took steps to address the midfield void, finally landing top target Manuel Ugarte on deadline day. The long wait for the Uruguayan’s signature was perhaps a black mark against the recruitment team, but was no doubt necessary to keep the price palatable.
And in Malian teenager Sekou Kone, United have taken a million-pound gamble on the kind of unknown talent on which they have traditionally spent 50 times as much after they have blossomed.
United fans were also largely positive about the fees the club recouped through sales this summer. The club’s inability to shift stagnating players on huge contracts has long been a source of frustration, and 83.7% of fans surveyed were pleased with the income generated from the nine first-team sales (plus Jadon Sancho’s loan with obligation to buy move to Chelsea).
But all that being said, over half of fans surveyed don’t foresee an improved season, with 51.1% feeling “about the same” when asked how hopeful they are for the rest of the season now the window has closed.
The Athletic acknowledge that timing the survey on the weekend of a Liverpool drubbing is catching the fans at a low ebb, but 38.4% remain hopefully that this season will be better than last season’s worst-ever Premier League finish of eighth. We really have to hope.
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