Andy Mitten told Friday's OTB AM that Manchester United still want to strengthen their squad before the October 5th transfer deadline.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side began their Premier League campaign with a lacklustre 3-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace. The manner of the result and performance led many United fans to call for urgent action in the transfer market.
"It was only one game but it was a horrendous game and a horrendous result," the United We Stand editor said.
"I know the club still wants to strengthen in this transfer window.
"Jadon Sancho has been their main target, to the point that United haven’t been getting back to other agents who have offered their players to the club.
"The agents feel that they are just going all out for Sancho."
So, what are the chances that this long-running transfer saga actually ends with Sancho at Old Trafford by October 5th?
"I have maintained for a long time that I cannot see United paying €120 million for Jadon Sancho in this Covid environment," Mitten said.
"Then you have Dortmund who don’t need the money like they did do 15 years ago when they were about to go under.
"There’s an impasse between the clubs that has not been broken.
"Maybe the player needs to say I want to leave. I don’t know how strong his desire is to leave, whether he’ll force the move because that can get ugly."
Donny Van de Beek is still the only permanent addition to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad this off-season and United's handling of this window is just further evidence to many of their long-term recruitment struggles.
"United would argue that their net spend is higher than any club in the last three transfer windows. They have spent but just spent badly, not in the last three transfer windows but in the last seven years," Mitten said.
"I spoke to a former United player this week who spent many years at the club and knows all about transfers. He opined that United have lost the ability to do the dark arts of transfers.
"In the Ferguson days, a potential player would know exactly where they wanted to play him and who he was going to play with. He would be mesmerised, he would be hooked and he’d then go to his agent to tell him to get the move done.
"If you’re Tottenham with Dimitar Berbatov and you know that he wants to go to Man United, it makes it much more difficult to keep him.
"Fergie was good at the dark arts but he was Ferguson. I know Ole does try and do a lot of talks with players or potential targets and he did that with Aaron Wan-Bissaka last year."
Mitten concluded by saying that United "definitely want to strengthen and they want to move players on as well" by the transfer deadline.
On Saturday, United travel to Brighton as they look to get back on track in the Premier League.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
