Manchester United could fill a starting XI capable of winning the Premier League with the number of fantastic players they failed to sign since the turn of the century.
Manchester United’s transfer success rate in the last decade has not been what many would have hoped for.
The club’s spending since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 is nearing two billion, with a number of their high-value purchase, such as Antony and Romelu Lukaku, as well as massive contracts given to the likes of Alexis Sanchez, failing to provide dividends.
In the last few seasons, some of the club’s best transfers have come from underrated deals, such as the £12.9 million signing of Noussair Mazraoui last summer.
Their only big-money purchase that can be classed as a bona fide success is that of Bruno Fernandes, who signed for just shy of £50 million in 2020 and has since gone on to become the club’s captain under Erik ten Hag, then Rúben Amorim.
Van Gaal’s transfer record at United was spotty
If you want to think about a wide-ranging list of successes and failures at United, you do not need to look much further than the 13 players former boss Louis van Gaal signed during his two summer and two winter transfer windows at United.
Some players could certainly be deemed relative successes, with those like Anthony Martial, Ander Herrera, and Marcos Rojo all having had significant careers at United; this trio in particular have become fan favourites.
However, many of the Dutchman’s more ambitious moves, such as signing Angel di Maria, Memphis Depay, and loaning Radamel Falcao, all ultimately failed. But, another interesting aspect of Van Gaal’s transfer stories at United were the players he didn’t sign.
It is well known that Van Gaal reversed a stunning move for United to sign German legend Toni Kroos, who had agreed to play for the club in 2014 before Van Gaal forced him to move to Real Madrid instead.
Another was the Dutch boss’ continued pursuit of Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller, who Van Gaal tried to capture for £50 million in 2015, who he gave his debut at Bayern too in 2008. However, no move materialised.
Muller will not be joining United this summer
Ten years later, Muller is finally leaving Bayern at the age of 35, and was asked by CBS Sports’ Kate Abdo if he had considered joining United previously in his career.
“Yeah, I thought about it,” Muller admitted after mulling over the question. he was then pressed on if it would be something he would be open to this summer.
“Many times… or do you mean now? Now? No, no,” the German legend clarified, with a smile on his face.
“I’m not the right guy for them, and they are not the right club for me. They won’t have fun, and I won’t have fun, so that’s not a match.”
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.