As the clock ticks down to the end of the summer transfer window on October 5, Manchester United fans are currently venting their anger towards Ed Woodward and the Glazer family on social media.United supporters are dismayed that Donny van de Beek is the club’s only summer signing with just over two weeks remaining before the window closes.That several of the club’s reported targets have joined their Premier League rivals has further infuriated the Old Trafford faithful.United had been linked with Real Madrid duo Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon but both players have agreed moves to Tottenham.The Red Devils were also keen on Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who will complete his move to Liverpool on Friday.United fans now fear that they will also miss out on their number one summer target Jadon Sancho, with the club not prepared to meet Borussia Dortmund’s £108 million asking price.#WoodwardOut and #GlazersOut are two hashtags that have been trending on Twitter this week.And an eye-opening tweet from The United Stand shows a list of transfers that Woodward has failed on over the past seven years.
Let’s take a closer look…
Ronaldo Return
Okay, this one was probably never going to happen, but there was talk that United might re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013 and again in 2018.
The Portuguese icon went to Juventus in 2018; could Woodward have done more to tempt him back to Old Trafford?
Hazard
Jose Mourinho reportedly wanted to bring Hazard to Manchester United, but there was never any realistic possibility of this transfer materialising.
Baines
Leighton Baines was one of several high-profile players David Moyes wanted to sign in 2013 but Woodward was unable to make it happen.
Fabregas
Man Utd could have signed Cesc Fabregas in 2014. Instead, the Spanish midfielder left Barcelona for Chelsea.
Kroos
Had Man Utd stuck with Moyes, Toni Kroos would have moved to Old Trafford in 2014.
“I knew before that Manchester wanted me. And Moyes underlined that absolutely,” Kroos told GQ in 2019. “It was a really nice afternoon with very nice people. We talked a lot about United’s footballing plan which convinced me. In the end, we agreed to do it. We agreed verbally.
“I am not somebody who worries about contingencies. Yes, it was close. I almost went to Manchester United. But it did not happen that way.”
Matuidi
Another international who would have strengthened Man Utd’s midfield options, Woodward failed in his attempts to bring Blaise Matuidi to the Theatre of Dreams.
Pedro
United lost out to Chelsea in the battle for Pedro’s signature when the Spanish winger left Barcelona in 2015.
Otamendi
Strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford in 2015, United fans were left disappointed when Nicolás Otamendi ended up at City.
Vidal
Yet another big-name midfielder who United fans got their hopes up over, Arturo Vidal joined Bayern Munich from Juventus in 2015.
Hummels
Van Gaal admitted earlier this year that he wanted to sign Mats Hummels back in 2014, but the German defender also ended up signing for Bayern Munich in 2016.
Mane
Credit to Louis van Gaal. He knew Sadio Mane was a massive talent and told Woodward to bid for the Senegalese forward during his spell with Southampton in 2015.
Two bids were rejected before Liverpool nipped in and brought him to Anfield a year later.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Mane told Super Sport in 2018. “Some teams wanted me – Manchester (United), the wrong team wanted me.”
“Of course, I spoke with Van Gaal, and they even made an offer. But for me it was not the right club, it was not the right moment. To feel this – the right moment, the right coach, the right club.”
Sergio Ramos
At one point in 2015, it genuinely appeared that United were on the verge of completing an audacious move for Sergio Ramos, only for the defender to sign an improved contract with Real Madrid.
“There was an offer from United,” Ramos told COPE in 2016. “I considered changing for a while but Real Madrid was always my priority and there were no economic reasons.”
James Rodriguez
Linked with Man Utd on several occasions over the past six years, James is now plying his trade under Carlo Ancelotti at Everton.
Muller
Another player Van Gaal wanted to bring to Old Trafford, Thomas Muller ended up staying with Bayern Munich.
“Things were serious when Louis van Gaal came in [in 2015], for all sides involved,” Muller told The Athletic in February 2020.
“I could imagine going to Man United then. But the club said, ‘We want you to stay.’ I wasn’t out of contract, that’s why I it was pretty clear-cut in the end. But it wasn’t just a poker game.”
Griezmann
Man Utd fans were convinced Antoine Griezmann was about to become the club’s new No. 7 in 2017, only for the Frenchman to sign a new deal with Atletico Madrid.
Dybala
Strongly linked with a move to Man Utd in 2019, Woodward was unsuccessful in his attempts to sign Paulo Dybala.
De Ligt
World football’s most coveted young centre-back in 2019 after impressing with Ajax, Matthijs de Ligt snubbed United in favour of Juventus.
Haaland
Man Utd surely could have beaten Borussia Dortmund to Erling Haaland’s signature earlier this year if they’d tried harder.
Grealish
United were linked with Jack Grealish this summer but the England midfielder opted to sign a contract extension with Aston Villa instead.
Bellingham
The talented Jude Bellingham, 17, preferred the idea of a move to Dortmund over United earlier this summer.
Upamecano
Reportedly Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s main defensive target this summer, Dayot Upamecano is unlikely to end up at Old Trafford before the transfer window closes.
Badiashile
The same applies for Monaco’s French defender Benoit Badiashile.
Reguilon
Sergio Reguilon will complete his move to Tottenham by the weekend at the latest.
Thiago
The Spaniard is about to make Liverpool even more formidable.
Bale (15 times)
Linked with Gareth Bale time and time again in recent years, the Welshman has agreed to join Mourinho at Spurs.