When Ed Woodward replaced David Gill as the man in control of Manchester United in 2013, he had taken possibly the biggest job in the world of football. As he soon found out, the transfer market is a difficult and unpredictable place. In time though, Woodward would re-establish the club as a major force, and one not afraid to spend big- during his time in charge the club has broken their transfer record twice- as was evidenced last summer and, if reports are anything to go by, he could be sanctioning even bigger deals this year.
Summer 2013
In the first transfer window post Ferguson and Gill, what Manchester United really needed was to give new manager David Moyes significant funds to make the squad his own. Woodward tried and failed to land top midfielder targets Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara (who had apparently agreed personal terms) and even a deadline-day swoop for Gareth Bale. The £100 million offer reportedly made for Bale, though it may have excited supporters, smacked of desperation.
Moyes returned to his former club and instructed Woodward to sign Leighton Baines, the England left back. Baines ended a long pursuit by deciding to remain at Everton and led to many questions regarding the lure of Manchester United now they were without Sir Alex Ferguson. The deadline-day capture of Marouane Fellaini highlighted the inexperience of Woodward in the transfer market. Like the last ditch move for Bale, it was one of desperation. Fellaini had been available for £21.5 million until the end of July but United pursued other options instead. When it became clear that they weren’t going to land any of them, they went back to Everton and signed the Belgian midfielder for £27.5 million.
What David Moyes needed was a couple of huge signings. What he got was a player, who he didn’t even value as a top priority, for a significant amount of money. Like the season ahead, Ed Woodward’s first foray into the transfer market was to be one to forget.
January 2014
After the disappointments of the previous window, the question was would United splashthe cash in the January market. Notoriously a time of overspending and escalating costs, Ed Woodward would have been wise to tread carefully and avoid wasting money on unsuitable players.
Yet the 2013/14 season was a struggle on the pitch and Moyes’ side desperately needed reinforcements. Woodward was keen to prove himself much as his manager was trying, in vain, to do the same. Both had suffered fierce criticism during the short time in their roles.
What Woodward gave Moyes was the club record signing of Juan Mata, from Chelsea. The Spaniard had been the key player at Stamford Bridge over the previous years but had fallen out of favour following the return of Jose Mourinho. The £37.1 million United paid, surpassing the previous record by over £7 million, was viewed as an extravagant purchase. Rumour has it that David Moyes wasn’t exactly enthused about the prospect of landing Mata, and that he was more Woodward’s idea of placating the fans rather than helping his manager.
Three months later, Woodward had made the controversial decision of dispensing with Moyes’ services following the failure to land Champions League football.
Summer 2014
Ed Woodward would have been aware of the need to supply David Moyes’ successor, Louisvan Gaal, with a transfer kitty that could fire the club back into the Champions League. Unlike the previous summer, he delivered on his promise to spend big.
He sanctioned a transfer spree of unprecedented proportions. £150 million was lavished on the signings of Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind, Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria. Di Maria (secured at British record of £59.7 million) and Falcao, although both endured disappointing campaigns, it at least proved that United could compete financially for the world’s biggest and best players.
The club’s summer spending ultimately achieved the goal of returning to European football and Ed Woodward certainly showed himself to be able to handle the rigours of the transfer market and secure the biggest deals.
January 2015
Whereas January 2014 saw United break their transfer record with the signing of Juan Mata, Woodward oversaw a quiet 2015 winter window. Perhaps understanding better the value, or lack of, at that time of year and Louis van Gaal not wanting to add to the squad, there was only one arrival. Victor Valdes joined on an 18 month contract following his release from Barcelona. Valdes would not only provide competition for David De Gea but would add a wealth of top level experience.
Summer 2015 so far…
United, and Woodward, got their business started early, learning lessons of previous windows, by securing the signature of highly-rated Dutch sensation Memphis Depay.
Although there has been plenty of rumour, as expected at this time of year, no further deals have been finalised. Woodward is probably working on them as we speak and the arrivals of Morgan Schneiderlin, Arda Turan and Sergio Ramos are, depending on where you read, imminent.
The club’s transfer dealings are causing a great deal of excitement amongst supporters. Let’s hope Woodward can repeat his feats in the market of last summer rather than those of 2013.
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