Now that the transfer window has closed, Manchester United supporters are aware of exactly what their team will have to contend with for the remainder of the season. The roster seems set for the majority of the season, although Ruben Amorim may convince club executives to give him more money during the January transfer window.
After determining that the position was holding them back the most during the previous season, United made an offensive revamp their top priority in the summer. The club spent about £200 million to acquire Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha. While Senne Lammens was a long-term objective they couldn’t pass on when he became available late in the window, a deal for Diego Leon was made back in January to capture another up-and-coming prospect.
Club executives were fully aware that it would be impossible to address every issue in a single window and acknowledged the necessity for a long-term squad reconstruction. It was more about completing as much as they could in the time allotted before carrying on the following year.
It indicates that despite looking at a number of midfield targets, United was unable to acquire one. With Casemiro expected to depart as a free agent, Bruno Fernandes still a target for Saudi teams, and uncertainty surrounding Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford, they will be in the market for at least two next summer. They may require three.
The development of promising children already on their books will affect the precise number. Toby Collyer was loaned to West Brom of the Championship in the hopes that playing in the second division would either prepare him for a regular first-team position the following season or generate enough interest for him to be sold for a high price.
Sekou Kone was not sent on loan, however, as intentions to join Enzo Kana-Biyik at Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland were shelved. After impressing Amorim and his coaches on the post-season trip to Asia, the 19-year-old concluded that his development would be better served internally, participating in first-team training sessions and making frequent appearances for the U21s.
There is no doubting the enormous potential that Kone has to give, even after a year of playing English football. He is still a very raw talent with much work to do to improve his game. After breaking his eye socket in a U21 game that was called off last month, the teenager is anticipated to make his comeback to action while wearing a protective mask. He will join a United team that needs midfield support.
Given that Mason Mount is far more effective in an offensive midfield role, he is now the sixth-choice midfielder in the first squad, and possibly even the fifth. It appears very possible that Kone will gain from some senior team engagement and possibly even a debut before the season ends, despite their shortened fixture calendar this year.
Before the January transfer window, a loan exit will undoubtedly be discussed once more, but the Malian midfielder will be hoping that by then he is too valuable for them to let go. Kone might be one of the three midfielders United needs for the upcoming campaign.
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