Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is keen to build on a successful first season at Old Trafford, which saw him deliver their first piece of silverware since 2017 in the form of the League Cup and secure a return to the Champions League.
However, Ten Hag's plans seem to have been impacted by a familiar issue at United, which former captain Roy Keane highlighted during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's stint as manager. "There was a feel-good factor for Ole at the start and he needs three of four transfer windows," Keane said on Sky Sports back in 2019.
"But if you're not getting results and lose matches like today, the pressure builds and builds. You won't get time. I have known Ole for a long time. I can tell looking at his eyes he is fuming and disgusted."
And Ten Hag is facing a similar problem this summer, with United set to begin their pre-season campaign with a number of unresolved issues within his squad. United have signed Mason Mount in a deal that could be worth up to £60m, but he is the only signing they have made before their trip to Norway for a friendly against Leeds.
Ten Hag remains without a first-choice goalkeeper following David de Gea's departure, with a deal for Andre Onana still being negotiated. The two clubs are yet to reach an agreement over the fee, with a compromise said to still be some way off.
Last season's top scorer Marcus Rashford is now in the final year of his current contract and an extension has yet to be agreed, sparking speculation about his future. A new striker is also not through the door yet, with United pulling out of the race to sign top target Harry Kane and still in negotiations with Atalanta over Rasmus Hojlund, leaving Anthony Martial as the only recognised central striker at the club.
Martial's future is also unclear, with the 27-year-old one of a number of squad players United have been unable to sell so far this summer along with Harry Maguire, Fred, Scott McTominay, Alex Telles and Eric Bailly - who has not played for United since 2021.
The takeover saga continues to rumble on almost eight months after the Glazers first announced the club was up for sale and Ten Hag will surely be frustrated by United's lack of activity in the transfer market. After his side beat Chelsea to secure a Champions League spot in May, he stressed the need to make several new signings this summer.
"We need more," he admitted. "But I don't have so much patience, that is one of my mistakes. We want to win every game but also, as I just tried to explain, it's tough here, there are really good teams, especially this season. Manchester City are playing really outstanding football.
"We have a way to go, we are in the right direction, we have work to do, so a work in progress. I think in this league, that's a good base to be in the top four but, yeah, we want to compete for the title. Now we are far away, so we have a lot of work to do, we've made progress with this team, with this squad but we need better players if we want to compete for the highest."
