Manchester United have made two signings – Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka – but still have several holes in their squad.
They have missed on Matthijs de Ligt and things have stalled with Harry Maguire and Sean Longstaff.
Bruno Fernandes is someone of interest as well but United remain some way apart in their valuations over a deal.
So we asked our reporters what United should be prioritising over the next three weeks.
Matthew Dunn, Daily Express Sports reporter
Oh dear! Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward had one job to do this summer – sign Matthijs De Ligt.
When they captured Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka before the window was even fully open, we were supposed to take it as a sign that United meant business this summer.
But while it is worth getting the corners of your jigsaw in place early, it is no good if the major piece right at the middle is missing. Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic – it is the failure to continue that stream of top-notch centre-backs that have cost United as much as struggling to replace Sir Alex Ferguson.
De Ligt would have been the answer for a generation, but United allowed Juventus to beat them to the punch.
Harry Maguire is less the solution, but still a worthy name to add to that proud list. But already “cheaper alternatives” are being mentioned and that would be another disaster. Put a sub-standard piece in and, like a jigsaw, United would again keep going to pieces in their box.
A world-class centre-back can help prevent that. Otherwise, there is only one other signing that will do – a decent technical director to take over ultimate responsibility for recruitment from the hapless Woodward.
Jim Holden, Sunday Express Chief Sports Reporter
The absolute priority for Manchester United right now is leadership of the club — at first team level, and in the boardroom. It’s far more crucial than signing Harry Maguire or Bruno Fernandes in this transfer window.
At any football club the most important figure is the manager. He creates the team culture and playing style and shoulders the burden of scrutiny. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be popular with sentimental fans, but is he the world class manager required to revive the fortunes of United? I don’t believe so.
He was a happy choice for a caretaker role when the reign of Jose Mourinho imploded, but giving Solskjaer the job permanently has merely postponed a serious prospect of renewal at Old Trafford.
You have to suspect that United will spend a few more wasted months going nowhere, and it would be no surprise if there was another mid-season change of manager, especially with someone as classy as Max Allegri waiting in the wings.
Beyond that, it’s clear enough that however brilliant he is at making money through commercial deals, Ed Woordward has failed the football side of Manchester United as executive vice-chairman. Player recruitment has been parlous in comparison to Liverpool and Manchester City in the past few years.
A strong director of football, someone like Edwin Van Der Sar, currently at Ajax, should be installed. United have talked for many months about creating this role at Old Trafford, but nothing has happened. It is symbolic of the malaise at the club.
Man Utd are running out of transfer window to sort their problems – what they MUST do now (Image: GETTY)
Man Utd are running out of transfer window to sort their problems – what they MUST do now (Image: GETTY)
Man Utd are running out of transfer window to sort their problems – what they MUST do now (Image: GETTY)
Luke Gardener, Daily Express online
Three weeks. Three signings.
Manchester United must push deals over the line for Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes and add a further player in midfield before the transfer deadline passes.
Leicester and England star Maguire must be the priority as it would complete an impressive backline for the Red Devils.
David De Gea behind Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw looks as strong as any defence in the top flight.
Attention must then turn to midfield with a lack of depth following the exits of Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini.
Sporting Lisbon star Fernandes has been linked and would be the ideal candidate to come into this United squad after his impressive season last time out.
Romelu Lukaku will leave for Inter Milan but I wouldn’t replace the striker. Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez are all options in attack.
Instead another midfielder would be ideal.
I would go all out to get James Maddison, even though Leicester would hate to lose two of their star men in one window to United.
Even with five signings, Solskjaer still faces a huge fight to get this squad into the top four.
Ryan Taylor, Daily Express online reporter
I’m surprised United are prepared to leave it so late to get the crux of their summer business done. They still need a centre-back and two midfielders and will risk paying even higher premium for key targets the longer the window rolls on.
Whether Harry Maguire is worth £80m or not, Ed Woodward should reach Leicester’s valuation and get the deal done so Solskjaer can start gelling his defence for the upcoming season, there is no time to waste for the sake of an additional £10m.
While the signings of Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are exciting, the two youngsters aren’t going to close the 32 point gap on Manchester City by themselves.
The future of Paul Pogba looks to be clearer than that of Romelu Lukaku, but if Solskjaer is going to get rid it needs to be now so that the funds can be reinvested. Bruno Fernandes is a must, he would bring leadership qualities and high quality to the United midfield and would also lift spirits amongst supporters because they are so desperate to land him. Another midfielder after that is still required.
Man Utd are running out of transfer window to sort their problems – what they MUST do now (Image: GETTY)
Man Utd are running out of transfer window to sort their problems – what they MUST do now (Image: GETTY)
Rhys Daly, Daily Express online reporter
Manchester United need to secure three more big-money deals in the remainder of the summer transfer window, and they need to sell Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba in order to do so.
The signings of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James are both steps in the right direction for Ole Gunner Solskjaer ahead of his first full season as United boss, but his squad is still not strong enough to break into the Premier League’s top four.
In order to give his side a good shot at Champions League qualification, the Norwegian needs to bring in a centre-back, an attacking midfielder and possibly a striker over the next three weeks.
In regards to the midfield role, the man they should go all out for is Sporting’s Bruno Fernandes. The Portugal international scored a ridiculous 31 goals in all competitions last season, and is available for just £54million.
Romelu Lukaku’s pending exit will leave Marcus Rashford as the only obvious option up front, while the defence is in dire need of a strong core.
Harry Maguire could be the man to provide that but Leicester’s asking price of £80m is a lot for 26-year-old with no Champions League experience and still just 20 international appearances.
Ed Woodward seems keen to allow the Old Trafford revamp continue, but United need to speed up transfer proceedings to bring fans back onside after a dismal end to the season.
Lewis Winter, Daily Express online reporter
Manchester United‘s summer business so far has been positive.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is an immediate upgrade at right-back and Daniel James is clearly a hot prospect.
But there is still a long way to go for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to get his squad challenging for major honours.
Harry Maguire, even at £80m, is a vast improvement on the current centre-backs at Old Trafford and a deal looks like it could be close to happening.
Toby Alderweireld at just £25m would provide great competition and cover for the likes of Victor Lindelof, so that is a move Solskjaer should look into as well as Maguire.
A goalscoring midfielder should be high on the agenda and all the talk is around Portugal star Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes scored 31 goals last season and can play in a number of positions across the middle of the park.
Maguire, Alderweireld and Fernandes would cost United over £150m altogether but they are three vital additions to Solskjaer’s underperforming squad.
If they don’t sign those three, or players of that stature, then it could be another long season at Old Trafford.
Man Utd are running out of transfer window to sort their problems – what they MUST do now (Image: GETTY)
Man Utd are running out of transfer window to sort their problems – what they MUST do now (Image: GETTY)
James Walters, Daily Express online assistant news editor
Manchester United’s recent woes continued this week as Matthijs de Ligt snubbed Old Trafford in favour of a move to Juventus.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will now likely overpay for Leicester’s Harry Maguire, who will incredibly cost more than Virgil van Dijk.
Maguire is a decent ball-playing centre-half and his no-messing mentality will be welcomed at United.
However, while the former Hull man is a major step up from Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and all the other deadwood at Old Trafford, he can’t turn United’s fortunes around on his own.
Without a squad overhaul, United can forget about finishing in the top four. Simply put, the players aren’t good enough.
United cannot match Manchester City and Liverpool. And with Tottenham strengthening, United are battling with Chelsea and Arsenal for the final Champions League spot.
Solskjaer knows he needs a centre-half to partner alongside Victor Lindelof, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka was a decent buy to fill a void at right-back.
However, United are crying out for a central midfielder to partner Paul Pogba to do the Frenchman’s dirty work. Similar to what Ander Herrera did before United let him walk away for free.
Nemanja Matic is past it and isn’t mobile enough for what United need. However, the Red Devils will be forced to overpay for their top targets as teams know Solskjaer and Ed Woodward are desperate.
A centre-back, a central midfielder and a potential back-up striker if Romelu Lukaku leaves are all needed for United to even think about finishing in the top four. It’s going to take more than that to become title challengers again.
Jamie Anderson, Daily Express online reporter
There’s no point in dwelling over what could have been. But indulge me while I do it anyway.
While Ed Woodward and Co. are locked in a never-ending battle to sign £85million-rated Harry Maguire – Juventus went and snapped up Matthijs de Ligt for roughly £20million less.
The Dutch international, 19, could have solved Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s defensive headaches and been the much-needed leader of the side for over a decade.
So what do Manchester United need to do in the final weeks of the transfer market? Make sure you land Maguire and get it done quickly.
It would be a disaster to ignore one of the brightest talents in world football only to start the season with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling against Chelsea on August 11.
I’ve used up the majority of my allocated word count on that rant – so I’ll keep the rest brief.
Keep Paul Pogba at all costs, make sure David de Gea signs a new contract, cash in on Romelu Lukaku and use the funds to bring goals into the side.
Man Utd are running out of transfer window to sort their problems – what they MUST do now (Image: GETTY)
Man Utd are running out of transfer window to sort their problems – what they MUST do now (Image: GETTY)
Matt Atherton, Daily Express online reporter
United have a lot of ground to make up next season, and could even risk falling further away from their two closest rivals. The remaining weeks of the transfer window are crucial for Solskjaer, and he can’t afford to hang around.
Sell sell sell – It’s crazy that there are still some players at United that are simply not good enough. Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, and Scott McTominay are all well below what’s required of a United player.
There are other names you could throw in there, too, which is what’s most worrying. I don’t think any of those five players would make it into any other teams challenging United to make it into the top six this season, and they’ll likely feature plenty of times under Solskjaer at this rate. That’s a recipe for disaster, and could even cause United to drop out of the top six.
David De Gea is beyond his best, and his confidence is absolutely shot. Although he’s been their best player for a number of years, football isn’t a charity.
It’s not about what’s happened in the past, it’s very much about the present, and right now – based on last season – he’s not in the top four goalkeepers in the league.
Why give him a massive new contract when Sergio Romero is right there, who is arguably one of the best reserve goalkeepers in the Premier League.
Cash in on De Gea while you still can – as his value is only going to go down again next season – promote Romero to the first-team, and use the transfer money elsewhere, which leads me onto my next point…
Buy buy buy – If you’re going to sell big this summer, which United should, they need to replace those players with better quality. United’s defence has been their downfall for a number of years now – especially their centre-backs.
It’s crucial that Solskjaer buys not one, but two top quality centre halves if he wants to break back into the top four. Gary Cahill is an easy option, and his salary would be a fifth of what they’re reportedly offering De Gea.
While Cahill is beyond his best years, what he’s lacking in pace, Victor Lindelof alongside him would counteract. United have also been linked with Kalidou Koulibaly for so many years now, but nothing has developed.
He’s not the best central defender in the world, but he’s certainly better than what they have.
Konstantinos Lianos, Daily Express online sports reporter
Manchester United’s top priority should be to land a centre-back.
Former United boss Jose Mourinho insisted last summer on the signing of a defender, like Harry Maguire and Toby Alderweireld, but didn’t get his way and the Old Trafford side conceded 54 goals, which is the second worst record out of last season’s top 10 – Wolves, Leicester and Everton fared better in that regard.
The problem still remains unsolved and the Red Devils don’t just need a good defender but a leader that will run the backline for years to come, like Matthijs de Ligt could.
The defender is the absolute priority but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should also look for a midfielder and a forward following the departure of Ander Herrera and the uncertainty surrounding Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez’s status in the team.
Those positions will definitely need to be strengthened immediately with replacements from the top shelf if Pogba and Lukaku leave.