John Murtough & Erik Ten Hag's Shrewd Business With Frenkie De Jong & Tyrell Malacia Shows Manchester United Fans Shouldn't Judge The Window So Soon

After a month of anger and rage, developments in the transfer window have settled Manchester United supporters who were unable to trust the new regime, despite not giving them a chance in the first place.

It's well too easy to get caught in the whirlpool which is the transfer market, even more so when your club is desperate for business be completed.

Manchester United supporters were told in the tail-end of last season by interim manager Ralf Rangnick that the club needed 'up to ten' new signings. That certainly didn't help with the eagerness once June 10 hit and the window was open.

In fact, disappointment was already in place within the fanbase at United before then, with supporters upset that the club were not already planning the groundworks for signings, despite Erik ten Hag only finishing his campaign with Eredivisie champions Ajax mid-way through May.

Those same supporters have been critical of the club in the past when they've not purchased the manager's chosen targets.

Of course, we cannot gloss over the fact that major reinforcements were, and still are, needed at the Theatre of Dreams.

United's squad is depleted following their lowest points total in Premier League history. They are bruised and need reinforcements to lift the squad and add some much needed quality and depth.

The hopes of a Frenkie de Jong signing seemed unrealistic when news broke following United's FA Youth Cup victory, however, slowly, developments with the transfer made it seem a possibility. Key word to United fans: slowly

Many were in anger that the deal for the midfielder who was valued by Barcelona at €100 million was taking so long. They don't seem too unhappy about the €65 million up front cost (alongside €15-20m add-ons) that United are looking likely to pay.

Meanwhile, frustrations elsewhere were set through the idea that it was 'De Jong or nothing' in United's eyes.

When reports suggested that Ten Hag wanted the deal for the Dutchman completed before action elsewhere, they assumed that meant the club couldn't work on more than one deal at once.

The upper-hand in negotiations with Barcelona, and potential for moves to be worked on discretely, didn't cross many minds.

Progression in the deal for Malacia was quick. Tuesday saw reports surge into the media about United hijacking the left-back's proposed move to Lyon.

There is now, reportedly, a deal in principle agreed for the signing of the player, alongside De Jong.

It also appears that United have been asking for updates regarding centre-back target Lisandro Martinez while they've been focusing on securing De Jong. Developments on that are already apparent, with Alex Crook reporting that the club are preparing a £40m bid for the player.

Ed Woodward is not a footballing man, and never was. His actions in the market have scarred United supporters.

"Do you want me buying the players? Doesn't that ring a bell?" New CEO of Manchester United, Richard Arnold, told a group of begrudged supporters that he met at a pub earlier this month.

He's left the reigns of the window fully in charge of football director John Murtough, head of scouting Steve Brown, and new manager Erik ten Hag.

The insecurity of seeing Manchester City and Liverpool flex their muscles with signings of Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez led to supporters judging the new regime before they had even got going.

Murtough's actions since he was brought into his new role have been positive. He was pivotal in bringing Erik ten Hag to the club. However, being an internal appointment meant that he was a 'puppet' of the ownership which United fans despise.

Despite the positive signs, some supporters don't want to trust those now in charge until United are lifting Premier League trophies again.

This isn't to say that the football club's transfers will be spotless now that the structure has changed.

But, they deserved the chance for the supporters to wait and judge at the end of the window. Their actions this week might've bought them some time with certain areas of the fanbase.