Manchester United had a very frustrating transfer window. Many fans of the Red Devils had expected their side to make a number of quality signings in order to reduce the gap between themselves and their City rivals Manchester City this season.
The Red Devils finished the Premier League last season in second place which is their highest finish since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson retired as their manager in 2013.
However, judging by the quality of their side heading into the new season, it would be a major achievement if they manage to secure a top-four finish. The only notable signings which the club made during the summer were those of Lee Grant, Fred, and Diego Dalot.
Realistically, midfielder Fred is the only new arrival whom the fans of the Red Devils can expect big things from. Grant was brought in to act as third-choice keeper and to add to the number of home-grown players within Jose Mourinho’s first-team. The veteran could well go through the entire season without playing a single game and will only play if there is an emergency situation.
The 19-year-old Dalot has very little first-team experience under his belt and could also go through the entire season without playing much as he looks to get more accustomed to life as a professional footballer.
Mourinho had been hoping to land a new centre-back during the summer transfer window. The club had been strongly linked with the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire, Jerome Boateng and Diego Godin.
Marcos Rojo, who was linked with a move away from Old Trafford during the summer, has been stripped from the number 5 shirt and will now wear the number 16 jersey which is the same number that he wore whilst playing for Argentina during the World Cup according to a report published by The Sun.
Rojo has held the number 5 jersey since he arrived at United from Sporting Lisbon in 2014 and took the iconic number which had been vacated by club legend Rio Ferdinand.
The fact that Rojo has been stripped off his shirt number could indicate that he is not an important part of Mourinho’s side. It could also be an indicated of Mourinho’s intention to buy a new defender in January and offload Rojo.
