Manchester United were a complete mess in the 2020 summer transfer window.
Regardless of how their flurry of Deadline Day signings perform in the famous red jersey, such a late scramble for transfers tells you everything about the rudderless approach from the United board.
Besides, the only signing that they did complete before the final moments of the window, Donny van de Beek, looked to be an overkill purchase which is yet to reap a single Premier League start.
Man Utd's transfer struggles
In the end, the deadline slammed shut without United having secured the right-winger they so desperately desired nor a centre-back, which looks more pressing than ever after the weekend.
That's not to mention the Jadon Sancho saga leaving a bitter taste in the mouth with the Red Devils, despite agreeing personal terms early on, failing to meet Borussia Dortmund's valuation.
Admittedly, Alex Telles looks to be a solid acquisition at left-back, particularly given Luke Shaw's poor performance against Tottenham, but the Edinson Cavani purchase rings alarm bells.
Damning outlook for Man Utd
The Paris Saint-Germain legend could well become a hit at Old Trafford, but his late arrival is hardly indicative of thorough planning from Ed Woodward when he has been available for eight months.
As for Amad Traoré and Facundo Pellistri, credit to United for sticking with their strategy of investing in youth, but the proof will be in the pudding when they are eventually integrated into the first-team.
Anyhow, rant over, but if you think we're being harsh on United's transfer strategy, then consider for one moment a fresh report from ESPN that paints a damning picture for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Man Utd fail to sign Solskjaer targets
That's because it's claimed that United were unable to secure a single player that Solskjaer had requested from them at the start of the summer. That's right, not one... ouch.
The report says that Solskjaer entered the transfer window with a shortlist that included Sancho, Jack Grealish and centre-back options as Dayot Upamecano and Nathan Ake.
Not one of the players that United bought this summer had been considered by Solskjaer, though it is explained that the manager was consulted before every signing and approved them in turn.
No centre-back or right-winger
United ultimately pulled out of deals for Sancho and Grealish because of their hefty asking prices, while Upamecano signed a new RB Leipzig contract and Manchester City snapped up Ake.
It's also confirmed that Solskjaer had wanted Erling Braut Haaland in January and that there was also interest in Thiago Alcantara this summer before his move to Liverpool.
GIVEMESPORT's Kobe Tong says
Look, I know the world of transfers isn't as simple as writing down your shopping list and then casually collecting each item from the shelves with no problem at all.
Besides, I'm sure Solskjaer himself wasn't thinking for one second that all his wishes would come true, but it's rather damning that United weren't able to get a single one of them over the line.
And even if United knew the first-choice preferences were unrealistic, let's not ignore the fact that Solskjaer neither had his wish for a first-team centre-back or right-winger fulfilled.
That's got to be cause for concern when the club suffered its joint-worst Premier League defeat at the weekend with Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly all looking shaky so far in 2020/21.
The moral of the story here is that Solskjaer's shortlist might well be the last one he draws up for United because you get the feeling that, albeit intentionally, he's been thrown under the bus he was once at the wheel of.