‘A brutal reality for Man Utd’ – McNulty’s deadline day verdict

Manchester United fans will be confounded by the club leaving the transfer window with even thinner attacking options than they did when the window first opened.

Marcus Rashford was exiled on loan from Aston Villa after Ruben Amorim effectively removed him from his mind, according to United sources, who stated that at Villa Park, at least 75% of his wages will be covered.

Amorim’s choice to play young England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine in Crystal Palace’s 2-0 home defeat, ahead of wealthy players Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund, was a shocking verdict of how little he feels has to have in front of those pair.

The biggest point of a United transfer window that brutally exposed their limited circumstances and mocked their status as the third-richest football club will be the lack of a striker.

Bottom line: They were unable to sign a statement without a statement sale because of United’s current financial situation and the requirement to adhere to the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

This is why there was even talk that Mainoo, one of Old Trafford’s crown jewels as well as a home-grown product, and Alejandro Garnacho could be sold to create wriggle room elsewhere in the markets.

Amorim has kept the young duo, with the big plus coming in the shape of a new five-and-a-half-year contract for emerging 22-year-old Amad Diallo.

Lecce’s 20-year-old Denmark defender, Patrick Dorgu, was the only major incoming in a deal that could be worth £29m, while England under-19s defender Ayden Heaven was taken away from Arsenal.

Few people will be grieving the signing of Antony from Ajax to Real Betis on loan, the Brazilian who was widely hailed as the club’s worst acquisition in its history at 81 million, according to then-manager Erik ten Hag in August 2022.

There can be no arguing, however, that this has been a transfer window as underwhelming as United’s season so far, but Old Trafford’s new hierarchy can also say, with justification, that they were in something of a ‘ no win ‘ situation.

If United had chosen to spend on short-term solutions in this window while running financial risks while wasting money, they would have been subject to criticism. They will also now face criticism for not spending when greater financial prudence in the transfer market would have permissively prevented them from falling into the same trap as before.

The struggling United community, which is now 13th in the Premier League after a fifth defeat in six home games, has not had much to cheer up.

Arsenal’s failure to bring in the trustworthy, reputable marksman most seasoned observers believe they need is the elephant in the room because they are still six points clear of Premier League leaders Liverpool after six more games.

Manager Mikel Arteta clearly agrees with this, so why the team’s unsuccessful attempt to get England international Ollie Watkins out of Aston Villa this season.

When Kai Havertz missed a crucial opportunity to win Arsenal 2-0 against City, questions arose about that lack of a striker. All was well that ended well as the German later delivered a clinical finish in that rout of City.

When Arsenal had been in a strong relationship with RB Leipzig’s Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko, but there was no turning back, this issue should have been addressed in the summer.

Arteta will point to Arsenal’s position as a leader behind Liverpool as evidence that there are no need for panic measures, both in terms of goals scored with 49 and automatic Champions League automatic passage.

He has a point, but there is still a chance Arsenal may still be paying for the team’s lack of match-winning players as the season progresses.

Has Pep Guardiola made a temporary fix for Manchester City’s broken up?

Following the pattern of their 4-2 Champions League defeat away to Paris St-Germain, where they also conceded four goals in the second half, their disappointing season was sharply resurrected by the second-half collapse in that 5-1 defeat at Arsenal.

Guardiola’s side, who made history last season by winning a fourth successive title, have looked ageing, flawed, frail and a pale shadow of their former all-conquering selves, opponents preying on their vulnerability.

The £50m purchase of Nico Gonzalez, a powerful 23-year-old midfielder from Porto, will strengthen an area that has been deprived of Rodri’s world class this season, with issues being made worse by Kevin de Bruyne (33) and Mateo Kovacic, a 30-year-old, and Bernardo Silva all beginning to show signs of mileage.

With the signing of 25-year-old Egypt forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal that could eventually be worth £63 million, Guardiola now has a replacement for long-missed Argentina forward Julian Alvarez.

He has also bought two defenders for the future with a £33.6m deal for 20-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens, along with teenager Vitor Reis from Palmeiras, who cost £29.6m.

Although this is a cost of close to £180 million, Guardiola’s rebuilding project only scratches the surface.

Will any of the quartet’s contributions really help the fading champions? It’s still to be seen.

Unai Emery’s outstanding work at Aston Villa has resulted in their automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16. Premier League form occasionally has a hangover due to European competition, but they are still in good shape.

Emery’s fierce ambition was clear in his demands for reinforcements, especially after the £65m departure of maverick striker Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Arsenal’s advances for England striker Watkins were rebuffed, leaving Villa to back Emery’s ambition with key signings as the transfer window closed.

Villa hopes that Emery’s success in revitalizing players, as well as Marco Asensio’s three-time Champions League champion, will help him get Marcus Rashford’s career back on track after his loan move from Manchester United. Asensio, a three-time champion with Real Madrid, will bring experience and street wisdom.

Axel Disasi, a new loan signing from Chelsea, would strengthen central defense, while Borussia Dortmund’s arrival will give him more width and attacking depth.

In addition, Tottenham pulled off a late coup in the transfer window by signing Bayern Munich’s youngster Mathys Tel on loan, which includes a £50m option and a six-year contract if the move becomes permanent.

The 19-year-old will give the Spurs attack more energy, and the deal that saw Lens’ 26-year-old defender Kevin Danso leave Wolverhampton Wanderers will strengthen the club’s defense, which has suffered badly as a result of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero’s long-term injuries.