Erik ten Hag didn't have things all his own way in the transfer window, but the Dutchman will be content with the business Manchester United did manage to conclude over the summer.
The former Ajax chief encountered numerous setbacks, particularly in the early stages of the window, and was unable to acquire Frenkie de Jong, who was believed to be his primary transfer target. But Ten Hag compensated by spending significant sums on other players capable of improving United's team.
Two of Manchester United's biggest deals of the summer saw Ten Hag directly raid his former side. Antony and Lisandro Martinez were both eager to reunite with their former boss in the Premier League - but Ajax were not willing to give them up cheaply.
By the time that Antony eventually arrived at Old Trafford on deadline day in a deal that could reach £85.5million, Martinez was already settling into life in Manchester after completing the formalities of his switch weeks before.
Ten Hag was adamant throughout the summer that Martinez was the man to help shore up United's fragile defence - so much so that he ignored technical director Darren Fletcher's desire to pursue an alternative target.
Fletcher, who clocked up over 340 appearances for Manchester United after graduating from the club's academy, is an avid admirer of his former Stoke City teammate Nathan Collins, who ended up joining Burnley last summer.
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The highly-rated Irish defender was even tipped to go on and become a '£100m player' by ex-pro Roddy Collins. The defender was attainable too following Burnley's relegation from the top flight - but Ten Hag was not swayed and pressed ahead with his bid to prise Martinez away from his former employers.
And while Collins, who was subsequently snapped by Wolves, has made an impressive start to life at Molineux, Martinez has thrived at Old Trafford to vindicate Ten Hag's decision.
The fiery Argentine centre-half is more than familiar with Ten Hag's philosophy and approach after flourishing under him for three years at Ajax, so it should come as no surprise that the 24-year-old has slotted seamlessly into United's new-look team.
Martinez is rated so highly by Ten Hag that he was immediately deployed in his favoured spot as a left-sided centre-back - the position that was previously accommodated by club captain Harry Maguire.
Despite concerns over Martinez's height, the two-time Eredivisie champion has already caught the eye through a combination of aggressive defending and his ability to break the lines with accurate passing from deep; a hallmark of the Ajax side that dominated Dutch football under Ten Hag.
The new Manchester United chief knew better than anybody what Martinez could bring to the club. And despite a rocky start, he has been proven right.
