United fans rate summer window a near-failure as left-back and striker targets slip away

Manchester United ended the summer transfer window without signing a left-back or a second striker, leaving manager Michael Carrick short of the reinforcements supporters had expected — and a fan poll of 4,952 voters has delivered a damning verdict on the club’s business.

United’s primary focus this summer was rebuilding their midfield following Casemiro’s departure. On that front, the club delivered: Andrey Santos arrived from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa in July, before Brighton’s Carlos Baleba completed a third midfield addition in August.

Beyond that, however, the window disappointed. A late approach for Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri on deadline day came to nothing, leaving United without a specialist left-back. The club also failed to bring in a new striker, a situation that had knock-on consequences: Joshua Zirkzee’s proposed move to Everton was blocked on deadline day, with United unwilling to let him leave without a replacement lined up.

The fan reaction has been stark. In a poll conducted since the window closed at 11pm on Tuesday, just one per cent of respondents gave United’s summer a perfect 10 out of 10, with a further eight per cent selecting 8 or 9. The largest single group — 34 per cent — settled on 6 or 7, while 30 per cent chose 4 or 5. A notable 27 per cent awarded the window a 3 or lower.

With the window now shut, United cannot sign contracted players until the mid-season window opens on 1 January 2027. Free agents remain available in the interim, though that market offers limited options for the specific positions Carrick’s squad still needs to address.