Man Utd needing Chelsea or Tottenham to do them a favour speaks volumes
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag wants a new left-back to fill in for Luke Shaw
PA
When Sir Alex Ferguson ruled the roost at Manchester United, panicking on transfer deadline day wasn't on the agenda.
But here we are, in the year 2023, with the Scot 10 years gone and the club a shadow of what it used to be.
United signed just two players at the last minute during Ferguson's reign.
One was Wayne Rooney, who would go on to propel United to five Premier League titles and become the club's all-time leading goalscorer prior to leaving in 2017.
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella is one player on Man Utd's transfer radar
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And the other was Dimitar Berbatov, with the Bulgarian helping United to two league titles during his own time at Old Trafford.
Both players were worth waiting for. They were world-class at the time, talents the Red Devils were willing to break rank in order to acquire.
Fast-forward to now, however, and United are now scrambling to sign a left-back at the last minute to cover for Luke Shaw.
That in itself is already ironic given Alex Telles and Brandon Williams have been allowed to leave.
United are actually weaker numbers-wise than a year ago and a difficult campaign seems to lie ahead, regardless of who they bring in.
But needing Chelsea or Tottenham to do them a favour, so late in the transfer window, is particularly damning.
Rivals don't often do business with each other. With so much at stake, virtually every week, that's understandable.
Yet United are hoping one of Chelsea or Tottenham approves an exit, with Marc Cucurella and Sergio Reguilon in their sights.
Cucurella was a key player for Brighton and many expected the left-back to shine at Stamford Bridge when he moved 12 months ago.
That hasn't happened, however. And, as things stand, the defender looks like one of Chelsea's costliest mistakes in their entire history.
United have, of course, raided the Blues twice over the past decade.
Juan Mata arrived in January 2014, with Nemanja Matic then arriving three-and-a-half years later.
But Chelsea would be foolish to strengthen United, even if there are questions as to whether Cucurella is really good enough to play for the Red Devils.
Then there's Reguilon.
Already, United seem rather panicked just by registering an interest in the Tottenham star.
Reguilon has endured a drastic fall from grace ever since moving to Tottenham back in 2020.
He's not even in Ange Postecoglu's plans for the upcoming season, such is the Australian's willingness to let the Spaniard go.
Yet United were snubbed by the defender three years ago, back when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was manager.
They are actively pursuing a deal for a player, too, who has had injury issues galore over the past 12 months - having been limited to just 12 appearances for Atletico Madrid last year.
Tottenham haven't sold a single player to United since Berbatov a huge 15 years ago.
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Tottenham star Sergio Reguilon is another player Man Utd are tracking ahead of the transfer deadline
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And there's still no indication Daniel Levy would be willing to let Reguilon move to United, despite the Spaniard's low stock in north London.
Under Ferguson, United were formidable.
But now, a decade on from the Scot's retirement, and they're completely unrecognisable.
And either Chelsea or Tottenham selling to United would be proof that they're no longer as big as they once were. Serious rivals no more...
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