It remains an oddity that Manchester United's record transfer fee came a decade ago.
Back in August 2016, the £89million United paid Juventus to bring Paul Pogba back was truly blockbuster, a fee from the future. It sent shockwaves across the football landscape.
The fact it hasn't been eclipsed in the 20 transfer windows since is telling. It reflects the fact that United haven't won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013 and the austerity with which owners the Glazers have run things.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival in February 2024 was followed by a drastic cost-cutting effort which still hasn't had the desired effect. This summer's transfer window has shown where United lag behind their Premier League rivals.
