How Manchester United's blockbuster £355m transfer window could have gone

Manchester United have enjoyed a progressive summer transfer window as they look to help Erik ten Hag build on winning major trophies in his first two seasons in charge at Old Trafford.

After claiming the Carabao Cup with a win over Newcastle United in his first year as Red Devils boss, the former Ajax head coach became an FA Cup winner last season after an impressive win over local rivals Manchester City. With all eyes on what lies ahead, Ten Hag’s squad has been boosted with the arrival of Lille’s promising centre-back Leny Yoro, Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee and Bayern Munich duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. Further new arrivals are on the agenda but they may have to wait until the January transfer window or even next summer.

But how could the summer transfer window have played out for Ten Hag and the Red Devils? We fired up Football Manager 2024, rewound the summer back to the start of the window and allowed the world’s most popular managerial simulation to replay the last three months in the transfer window.

Ins

The most notable aspect of the virtual Ten Hag’s summer business is the number of defenders added to his squad. It all started with the signing of RB Salzburg full-back Amar Dedic and AC Milan centre-back Pierre Kalulu, who cost a combined £52m. They were quickly followed by a triple Premier League swoop as £77m was paid for Jurrien Timber, Levi Colwill and Tyrick Mitchell as the trio joined from Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace respectively.

Another Premier League player arrived in the form of £30m midfielder Billy Gilmour from Brighton and the forward ranks were boosted with the £40m signing of Paris Saint-Germain star Goncalo Ramos.

All new signings: Amar Dedic (£35m from RB Salzburg), Pierre Kalulu (£17m from AC Milan), Goncalo Ramos (£40m from Paris Saint-Germain), Jurrien Timber (£30m from Arsenal), Levi Colwill (£26m from Chelsea), Tyrick Mitchell (£21m from Crystal Palace), Billy Gilmour £30m from Brighton and Hove Albion) Total outgoings: £228m.

Outs

It’s perhaps not a surprise to see a number of defenders departing Old Trafford given the amount of new faces that arrived. Tyrell Malacia and Willy Kambwala moved to Torino and Lille respectively, Harry Maguire remained in the Premier League with Fulham and Victor Lindelof headed to Besiktas in a £9m move.

Hannibal departed to Lens on loan and fellow academy products Mason Greenwood and Scott McTominay raked in £36m with respective moves to Ajax and AC Milan. Perhaps the biggest surprise came with Amad Diallo’s £29m switch to Atletico Madrid.

All outgoings: Tyrell Malacia (£5m to Torino), Willy Kambwala (£4m to Lille), Harry Maguire (£32m to Fulham), Amad Diallo (£29m to Atletico Madrid), Victor Lindelof (£9m to Besiktas), Scott McTominay (£26m to AC Milan), Alvaro Fernandez (£12m to Celtic), Hannibal (loan to Lens), Greenwood (£10m to Ajax) Total income: £127m.

Manchester United squad

GK: Onana, Bayindir, Heaton DF: Martinez, Kalulu, Dedic, Evans, Shaw, Mitchell, Colwill, Timber, Dalot MF: Gilmour, Casemiro, Mainoo, Eriksen, Fernandes, Mount, Gore FW: Ramos, Garnacho, Rashford, Sancho, Antony, Hojlund.