FRENKIE DE JONG AND VICTOR OSIMHEN SIGN - MAN UTD'S BLOCKBUSTER SUMMER UNDER SHEIKH JASSIM

Manchester United's summer transfer window could've been one for the ages had they been taken over by Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

New minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe flexed his financial muscles sensibly this summer at Old Trafford, bringing in a new forward in Joshua Zirkzee and bolstering the club's defence and midfield with noteworthy signings Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte.

However, had Sheikh Jassim not been pipped by Ratcliffe, who eventually purchased a 25 per cent of the club from the Glazer family, the expectation would be that this window would have spelt significant change for United and seen star names brought in for big money without breaking FFP rules.

When it was rumoured that the Qatari bidder was set to take over in Manchester, several players he reportedly admired and would attempt to sign for the club were revealed. Mirror Football takes a look at how this window may have gone for the Red Devils had their ownership battle chartered a different course - and Jassim got his dream summer.

Osimhen snapped up

Napoli's out-of-sorts Nigerian striker was thought to be on the move this window, with Chelsea primed to stage a coup for the 25-year-old, but no deal materialised, and it looked as though Victor Oismhen would be heading to Saudi Arabia.

However, on Deadline Day, the club pursuing Osimhen, Al-Ahli, opted instead to sign Brentford ace Ivan Toney in a £40m deal, and with a move to Stamford Bridge unable to be negotiated, the window slammed shut with the striker now stuck in Naples.

A different Saudi Pro league club might still approach Osimhen, as their transfer window remains open, but it could also be the case that he has to bide his time and wait until the new year to secure a move away.

If Sheikh Jassim were in charge at Old Trafford, however, the Super Eagles ace would have been a candidate to lead Erik ten Hag's line this season.

Osimhen was one of the names the failed bidder supposedly picked out when his United takeover was in the works, and with the star's asking price being dropped from an initially reported £85m to the £67m that Al-Ahli were prepared to pay, the Red Devils may have been tempted to sign the marksman instead of Joshua Zirkzee.

A player of the Nigerian’s stature would have likely been a shoo-in up top, especially because first-choice striker Rasmus Hojlund is currently injured, and could have been given the chance to test his goal-scoring capabilities in the Premier League.

A reunion for De Jong

Even before Frenkie de Jong's former manager, Ten Hag, arrived at Old Trafford, the Red Devils were pursuing the Dutchman. After De Jong made the switch to Barcelona, things ramped up and bids were lodged as United looked to secure themselves a midfield maestro.

During his first summer as manager in 2022, Ten Hag saw a bid from his side accepted, and a reunion was on the cards. However, De Jong didn't agree to the deal. During this window, it was rumoured that interest in De Jong would be rekindled, but the club were rebuffed yet again and settled for Uruguayan enforcer Manuel Ugarte.

If Sheikh Jassim had been in charge, he might have steered the club towards De Jong instead, as the Dutch playmaker was another of the players he allegedly admired.

Adding the 27-year-old dynamic midfielder would've meant that six of United's current team would have played under Ten Hag at Ajax, including new signings Noussair Mazraoui and De Ligt, as well as Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez, and Antony.

Late deal for Coman

Kingsley Coman is set to stay put at Bayern Munich this summer but saw his name linked with a range of clubs, including Arsenal and Saudi Pro League sides as Deadline Day approached.

The Gunners opted for Raheem Sterling as reinforcement out wide instead of a player like Coman, but the Frenchman could've been packing his bags and heading for England had Sheikh Jassim been in charge at Old Trafford.

The Qatari bidder reportedly admired Coman, who won a league title in his first 11 years as a professional footballer and may have chosen the 28-year-old as a replacement for the departed Jadon Sancho – who joined Chelsea on Deadline Day.

Ten Hag has preferred to use Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo out wide this season but could’ve had one of Europe's top wide-men to incorporate should the club have changed hands to a different owner.

Rabiot picked up for free

Adrien Rabiot has long been linked with United and their rivals Liverpool, but neither chose to take a gamble on the 29-year-old this summer as he entered free agency, having left Juventus after five years with the club.

A player of the French player’s quality won't have to wait long for a suitor to come along, it would be expected, and that club could have been the Red Devils should Sheikh Jassim have got his way.

Despite signing Ugarte, United's midfield may need further reinforcement still, with Mason Mount sidelined for four to five weeks and Casemiro turning 33 next year. Scott McTominay has also been sold to Napoli for £25m, leaving a void within that midfield group.

A player like Rabiot could undoubtedly provide Ten Hag with a balanced option in the middle of the park to relieve some of the stress from young Kobbie Mainoo, and his arrival would have been expected had the race to own part of one of England's most successful clubs played out adversely.

Signing these four players would likely come in under the £180m United spent on Leny Yoro, De Ligt, Zirkzee, Ugarte and Mazraoui, meaning they wouldn't have fallen foul of FFP rules either.

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2024-08-31T13:56:27Z dg43tfdfdgfd