Comparing Manchester United's Summer Transfer Moves to Premier League Rivals

The first step in the assessment is to decide which clubs currently count as rivals. United will, of course, be looking to compete with Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea for the Premier League title. However, it is also worth considering clubs with eyes on Champions League spots.

Jon Super/Associated Press

At this point, that is probably realistically limited to Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. Of course, there is always room for a surprise.

It is important to also state that this is an analysis of how things currently stand, with a little speculation about future moves. The definitive answer to how teams have done will not come until the beginning of September, when the window, in the parlance, slams shut.

To start, let's take a look at the confirmed moves so far—excluding players with fewer than 15 starts for their senior sides. All prices are courtesy of BBC Sport's lists of completed transfers for May, June and July unless otherwise stated. 

Chelsea

Out: Petr Cech, £10M

In: Radamel Falcao, loan; Asmir Begovic, £8M (reported); Nathan, undisclosed

Manchester City

Out: Scott Sinclair, undisclosed; Micah Richards, free; James Milner, free

In: Enes Unal, undisclosed fee; Raheem Sterling, £49M deal agreed, per BBC Sport

Arsenal

Out: Lukas Podolski, £1.8M

In: Cech, £10M

Manchester United

Out: Tom Cleverley, free; Nani, £4.25M; Robin van Persie, all but completed, per MailOnline 

In: Memphis Depay, £31M; Matteo Darmian, £12.7M (reported); Bastian Schweinsteiger, £14.4M (reported); Morgan Schneiderlin, £25M

Tottenham Hotspur

Out: Etienne Capoue, undisclosed; Lewis Holtby, undisclosed; Paulinho, £9.9M

In: Kevin Wimmer, undisclosed; Kieran Trippier, undisclosed; Toby Alderweireld, undisclosed.

Liverpool

Out: Steven Gerrard, free; Glen Johnson, free; Sebastian Coates, undisclosed; Sterling, £49m (see above)

In: James Milner, free; Danny Ings, TBC; Adam Bogdan, free; Joe Gomez, £3.5M; Roberto Firmino £29M; Nathaniel Clyne, £12.5M

The key takeaway is that Manchester United and Liverpool are ahead of the game in terms of getting important business done relatively early in the window.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Both sides have addressed key needs. Milner brings a ton of experience and quality to Liverpool, who will need both after losing Gerrard. Firmino will add quality and steel to their attacking midfield.

He is not the same kind of player as Sterling, whom they will be worse off without, but his arrival will lessen the blow of losing the England youngster if he can recreate his Hoffenheim form at Anfield.

Spurs have been the next-most active side so far. It is amusing to note that all of their fees, bar Paulinho, are listed as undisclosed. It is as if the club's hierarchy wants to draw attention to the fact that they recouped a reasonably significant fee for a player who spent two seasons infuriating Spurs fans with his inconsistency.

Their incomings so far look promising, with defensive solidity a clear priority, but as yet, it is hard to see them transformed into a guaranteed top-four side.

Chelsea have yet to make their mark on this window, although it is hard to see things staying that way until September. This time last year, the signing of Falcao would have been a huge story, but his stock has plummeted after a fruitless season at Old Trafford. Unlike Angel Di Maria, the Copa America did not see a return to form for El Tigre.

The chances of him unseating Diego Costa as Chelsea's No. 9 seem slim. Their other business has been to allow Cech, their legendary and still high-quality goalkeeper, to go to Arsenal. Thibaut Courtois will surely be guaranteed the No. 1 spot, with Begovic brought in as a high-level back-up.

Expect to see him play in the cups for the Blues.

Nathan is very much one for the future, and it would be no surprise to see him loaned out.

Arsenal will be stronger with Cech between the sticks. Indeed, it will be the first time since David Seaman left that they have a reliable 'keeper. Unlike United and Liverpool, Arsenal did not look like they needed a huge investment this summer to get closer to Chelsea.

There are key areas where an upgrade would help, but if some of their injury-prone stars can stay fit for longer next season, they could be serious contenders. Another central-midfielder to cover for Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta and a top-quality centre-half may still be on the shopping list, and a striker should be as well.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

City's situation is intriguing. Sterling's acquisition may not represent particularly good value for money, but that is not a serious concern for the Citizens. In April, Bleacher Report Manchester City correspondent Rob Pollard wrote: 

"

What [City] lack the most is a player with pace who can carry the ball, which is exactly what Sterling offers in abundance.

Every other top club in Europe appears to have a player with that ability, yet the closest thing City have is Jesus Navas, an excellent squad player, but hardly one of Europe’s elite.

"

Between Sterling addressing that need and his homegrown status, the transfer fee is all but irrelevant for a club with their backing. Thus, all that matters to City is whether the player improves their squad, and Sterling does.

Pollard was also positive about City's signing of Unal, writing, "City's capture of Unal continues their policy of trying to sign the most promising young players from around the globe." 

Losing Milner does seem like a blow, as he has been a fixture in their squad throughout their recent success, but they presumably have alternatives in mind.

That brings us to United, who have had an exciting few days on the transfer front. Over the weekend, the signings of Darmian, Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin were added to the late-season acquisition of Depay.

Right-back was a position sorely in need of strengthening, so Darmian's signature is potentially significant.

Central midfield has been a problem area for United since around 2009, something they have thoroughly addressed now. The team's form collapsed in the absence of Michael Carrick at the end of last season, so bringing in two more high-quality midfielders—one an all-time great—is tremendous news for the Red Devils.

There is still work to be done, though. The departure of Nani will not leave much of a dent, as it has been three solid years since he displayed any kind of form at United. Van Persie, on the other hand, will leave a gap.

Given how patchy his form has been since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, it is no tragedy for United that he is gone, but they are left with a striker shortage.

It is a tricky problem to solve, assuming Louis van Gaal is planning to play 4-3-3. With these additional midfielders, Wayne Rooney's days at No. 8 are presumably done, and if a striker comes in, he will likely have to battle with United's captain for the one No. 9 position.

Then, there is the goalkeeping situation. David De Gea was announced as part of United's touring squad to the USA. What happens next remains uncertain, but one way or another, it will need to be addressed.

The final need for United is, of course, a commanding and experienced centre-half.

If United manage to add a striker, hold on to De Gea and Di Maria, and add that kind of centre-back, then whatever any other club does—with the exception of bringing in Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi— it will be hard to argue that United are not more strengthened by their summer moves than any other club.

Of course, of the top four, United were most in need of strengthening, and it is uncertain how much of the above will come to pass. What is certain, though, it that United have done superb business over the past couple of weeks, and other title contenders will be nervous about a Red Devils resurgence next season.