It is fair to say that Manchester United’s pursuit of former Stoke and West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic has left many fans a touch underwhelmed.
He may be able to do it on a wet Wednesday in the Potteries but a Manchester United player? Do us a favour seems to be the general feeling. The fact, too, that the club are hot on the heels of Adrien Rabiot, who Juventus are happy to move on, has hardly set pulses racing at Old Trafford.
Again, a good player but is he a material improvement on what United already have? Possibly. Possibly not. This, however, is the reality of the situation that Erik ten Hag finds himself in and means these are the kind of deals he will have to strike. Guesses and marginal calls.
