Manchester United failed summer transfer might now be harder to complete than ever before

Manchester United will insist they signed their top defensive target in the summer transfer window, but there can be no ignoring they also missed out on a very attractive addition.

The fact is United saw two bids rejected for Jarrad Branthwaite, before they eventually signed both Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt. At the time, club sources reiterated Yoro was always their first-choice, while a deal to sign De Ligt accelerated once the Frenchman suffered a devastating injury setback in only his second pre-season appearance.

From the early stages of the season, it is clear United miss the profile of Yoro in their backline, with the 18-year-old viewed as the ideal partner for Lisandro Martinez at the back. In contrast, De Ligt has endured a mixed start and is far more in the mould of a long-term Harry Maguire replacement than a modern ball-playing central defender.

United still hope Martinez and Yoro can form a successful partnership for the years to come, though there is obvious concern over how poorly the Argentine has been in the first weeks of the new season. Martinez is arguably the most influential and important player for Erik ten Hag, and his poor performances are certainly a key factor in their slow start to the campaign.

It has once again raised the concern about United's lack of appropriate cover for Martinez on the left-side of central defence, with Jonny Evans the only natural replacement for him. While he is still capable of doing a job there, the 36-year-old is obviously not a long-term solution and struggles to play two games in a week.

United understandably still retain an interest in Branthwaite, although next year their priorities are likely to lie elsewhere as they go about reinforcing their squad again. It could even be a total non-starter given developments at Everton.

The Friedkin Group is currently in the process of obtaining regulatory approval after they agreed a deal to acquire Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1% stake in the football club. They hope to have completed a deal by very early next year at the latest, and could even be in charge ahead of the January transfer window if all things go to plan.

A fresh injection of cash would obviously ease any need to cash-in on their star player next summer, while TFG would also like to keep hold of Branthwaite as a signal of intent and their ambition to restore the club to its former glories.

Given that he was valued at £70 million this summer, it would take at least that to prize him away from Goodison Park next year, something United simply won't be able to do if other areas of the squad need strengthening first, especially not if they miss out on Champions League qualification again.