At the time it looked like an opportunistic deal that showed Manchester United were becoming fleet of foot in the transfer market, but the reality has been rather different.
When Real Madrid failed to find the funds to progress a deal with Ajax for Donny van de Beek in the Covid transfer window of 2020, United quickly stepped in to strengthen Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's midfield. It was a deal that progressed smoothly and went under the radar and at £35million it looked like a bargain.
Van de Beek had been of interest to United previously. In January 2020 he was shortlisted as a potential attacking midfield signing, but it was Bruno Fernandes who was top of that list.