Manchester United began the summer knowing that there was significant work to be done in the transfer window following the clubs dire 15th-place finish last season.
That was by far the clubs worst finish of the Premier League era and was partly down to some of their more expensive transfer misfires catching up with them.
As the 2025/26 Premier League campaign gets underway, the club have focused their efforts in the transfer market on attacking players, with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko coming for combined fees of more than �200million.
Brian McClair on Manchester Uniteds big transfer issue
Despite the arrival of this attacking trio, gaps remain in the squad and former Red Devils forward Brian McClair believes that a lack of European football has cost his old side in the market this summer.
It wouldve been a lot easier to bring in quality players this summer with the attraction of the Champions League, the Scot tells FourFourTwo. No European football means less money to spend, and less reason to choose Manchester United over others.
The key when youre in a situation like United, is to bring in players you know are going to be able to perform at this level, McClair, who won eight major honours with the club, adds.
You can afford to take a few gambles when youre on top and winning things but a team struggling for form, to pick up wins, its vital you bring in experience that wont need time to settle.
Sometimes you need players with big egos, people who arent afraid to grab the limelight, McClair continues. You saw last term how much Rasmus Hojlund struggled. Hes still learning his craft, while being tasked with scoring goals for a side that has really struggled to create chances. I felt for him.
Thats where you need big-game players to step up and alleviate some pressure. The only one who regularly did that last season was Bruno Fernandes. That has to change.
This is also the first summer transfer window of Ruben Amorims tenure and McClair believes the Portuguese needs to get a certain type of player in.
The manager has a clear idea of how he likes to set his teams up and win games, McClair says. He has been wedded so far to his back three and I cant see that changing, so its about bringing in the right faces to make that system work. Its been clear since he arrived that not everybody already at the club was suited to it. He needs the right mix of players to make that work.
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