Manchester United have transfer trick to solve issue but face £65m reality check

Manchester United have seemingly opted to retain Erik ten Hag as manager, at least for the time being, after an international break fraught with rumour, speculation and pressure.

The Reds have suffered a shocking start to the season and are down in 14th place in the Premier League table having found points and goals hard to come by. Their Europa League campaign has yielded two draws from two matches and a summit meeting between the Old Trafford power brokers this week was a chance for a change in the dug-out.

But no communication has been forthcoming and Ten Hag is expected to be in charge for the visit of Brentford next weekend. It's meant for a chaotic opening few weeks to the campaign on and off the pitch. Here's the latest United news.

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Transfer options

While Manchester United has been searching for a left-back this summer, the one they sold has been making waves in the Champions League and attracting admiring glances from Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Alvaro Fernandez Carreras left Old Trafford after Benfica activated an option to sign him permanently at the end of a loan move. He has been impressive in Portugal so far this season, starting seven successive games at left back in the league and Europe.

He was one of Benfica's star men in the 4-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid, which forms part of the Eagles' 100% start to their Champions League campaign. The Portuguese papers praised him for an assured defensive performance and for offering an attacking outlet down the left.

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Stark financial warning

Manchester United have become used to seeing title challenges fade early in the season, but after their worst start to a Premier League campaign, they are also facing the prospect of being out of the top-four race by the end of October.

A club that budgets for the Champions League are becoming more familiar with the routine of the Europa League and Thursday night football. For the second time in the last three seasons, United are among Europe’s B-listers from the get-go.

This club threatened to form part of the breakaway Super League, and you can increasingly see why the Glazers were tempted by that pot of gold at the end of a particularly murky rainbow. There is no longer any guarantee that United have the quality on the pitch to guarantee a seat at the top table

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