“He wants to copy my style but it won’t work….Manchester United are replicating Man City in the transfer market after spending £155 there’s one clear reason why

Man United have spent £155.35m on four players already this summer and they could near the £200m mark with Manuel Ugarte.

Even with five injuries to contend with, the Manchester United squad against Fulham was strong enough that two international wingers were omitted.

Facundo Pellistri is unlikely to be named in a United matchday party again and several supporters will hope Jadon Sancho’s absence extends to Brighton and beyond. Erik ten Hag clarified Sancho was fit enough to be involved on Friday evening, despite suffering an ear infection last week.

Ideally, United would recruit three more players. Realistically, it will be one – a midfielder. If Pellistri and Sancho both go, United have first and second-choice wingers on both flanks. Ditto the peripheral Hannibal Mejbri; Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are ahead of him as No.10s.

Victor Lindelof has played two halves of football since he reported for pre-season six weeks ago and done minimal training. He was nursing a “niggle” and then came off against Liverpool as a “precaution”. Now he is on crutches. That’s a nasty niggle.

Lindelof, 30, is borderline unsellable. He missed 21 games last season through injury, has started this season out injured and is out of contract next year. Takers will not be queuing around the block.

United at least have four senior centre halves in his absence. The enforced withdrawals of Noussair Mazraoui and Harry Maguire (both building up their fitness) in the 81st minute could have destabilised the defence against Fulham. Matthijs de Ligt and Jonny Evans ensured United’s shop remained shut after Joshua Zirkzee scored. Leny Yoro will return after the clocks go back.

Provided Luke Shaw does not suffer an umpteenth setback, he is due back after the September internationals, so United will hope to get by with Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot at full back against Brighton and Liverpool. Tyrell Malacia’s early October return date should be lightly pencilled in and United have Harry Amass as an alternative.

It was apparent at the start of this summer United would not break the £60million barrier for a signing and the final fee for Yoro was just shy of that. For years, Manchester City prided themselves on not exceeding £60m for a signing and only four additions (Rodri, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish and Josko Gvardiol) have fetched fees above that. The common denominator, of course, is Omar Berrada.

United’s current summer outlay stands at £155.35m (including add-ons), with an up-front sum of £139.98m. United sources have stressed this is the summer of budget discipline and swift market action.

Scott McTominay, the only truly sellable asset in midfield, has to make room for an incoming, preferably Manuel Ugarte. United are confident of getting Ugarte but it is understood to be contingent on McTominay going.

United should not be shortchanged for an academy graduate and proven Premier League player with matchwinning nous and international pedigree, yet McTominay’s contract situation forces their hand. They likely have to take a hit on a player valued at £40m last year to make a profit this year.

Whatever United’s game model is (Ten Hag mentioned his new buzz phrase twice during his tour sit-down and twice again at Carrington on Thursday), McTominay jars with it. He is an industrious impact player but not a technician and he might have gone a year earlier had Kobbie Mainoo not hobbled off in Houston 13 months ago.

Ten Hag has stressed the need for quantity and quality. Toby Collyer has emerged as an additional option in midfield, an area where at least five out-and-out options are required. Discounting Mount, United already have a quintet with an average age lowered by Mainoo and pre-season tour breakout Collyer. Ten Hag can also call upon Fernandes, arguably a better footballer in the middle third than the final third.

This is a season where the minimum aim for United has to be a top four finish. There have been too many like that in the past decade (2014-15, 2019-20, 2022-23) but United have not challenged for the championship since they last won it.

United’s squad is still not where it needs to be though they were never going to complete their gradual rebuild in one summer. The two senior left backs are crocks, two of their midfielders are creaking and there is not a dependable goalscorer in the frontline.

Ducks must be lined up for next summer: Evans, Lindelof and Eriksen can be released. Maguire could be, depending on his form this term, Casemiro should be easier to shift and a succession plan at left back is warranted with Shaw clocking up more days in the medical centre than on the training pitch at Carrington. Malacia, out of contract in 2026, is vulnerable.

Provisionally, United will need a centre back, a left back and two midfielders next summer. Maybe an extra forward if wayward wingers Marcus Rashford and Antony do not improve over the next nine months. Two wingers could already be going this month.