It’s certainly not been the best week for transfer news as far as Manchester United are concerned. The summer transfer window comes every year and brings along tonnes of excitement for fans, who’s coming – who’s going? The truth is, no matter how much a rumour is speculated, no deal is done until it is done… But we already know that.

The United faithful went into the game last Friday night against Villa full of confidence that Ed Woodward and Louis van Gaal had all but secured one or two new signings before the end of the window. Pedro? Muller? Otamendi? It was just a question of when.

However, despite United’s brilliant post-August transfer window, things have gone a little sour ever since. Of course, there’s always a downside to every window. Perhaps for Manchester United fans, the only downside they hoped to face were the departures of Robin van Persie, Angel di Maria and maybe David de Gea – but it’s looking increasingly likely that there’s more disappointment to come.

United have been crying out for a defensive general ever since the departures of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, but despite their relatively good defensive start to the season, it is still widely believed that they need a new face in the heart of the defence. Sergio Ramos? The Madrid captain was never likely to leave the Spanish capital despite United bidding almost £30m. Ramos has since gone on to sign a new deal at Real. Nicolas Otamendi? The Argentine was strongly favoured for a move to United and for many was their ideal signing. However to everyone’s surprise, there seems to be no interest from United whatsoever! So rivals Manchester City are now clear to land the £28m Argentine international.

It gets a lot worse..

Pedro was a shoe-in to replace the departed Angel di Maria. Priced at £22m, half of what United received for Di Maria, there seemed to be no stumbling block except if the player decided he wanted to stay at the club he had spent all his life at. With Woodward flying to Barcelona to complete the deal, it was certain to be all but done – but then United ‘dropped all interest’, whatever that means.

So now what?

Just hours after the devastating news that Pedro was on the way to Chelsea, Manchester United played yet another trump card. They made a bid for Southampton’s Sadio Mane. The Senegalese forward signed for the Saints from Salzburg for around £12m in January, meaning United’s bid must have been at least £18m, if not more. The bid was rejected and United have been told the No.10 is not for sale, but how on earth can United go from chasing a Champions League and World Cup winner, to a forward who has endured a ‘good’ 6 months in English football? It is total madness.

So as United fans face yet another 2 weeks of Thomas Muller, Antoine Greizmann and Nicolas Guitan (yes, even in 2015) rumours, just know that there is more than likely work being done behind the scenes. It would almost be unthinkable for United not to sign another forward player this summer to replace RvP, Falcao and Di Maria. So just sit back and enjoy watching us re-sign Michael Owen on deadline day.