After previously snapping-up Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund for a combined 180million outlay, United continued to bolster their numbers before the 11pm cut-off. Swoops for Altay Bayindir and Sergio Reguilon, who joined on-loan from Tottenham, were confirmed on Friday morning.
United then finally reached a breakthrough with Fiorentina to sign Sofyan Amrabat on loan. His signature will cost them 10million with an option-to-buy added to that agreement. Jonny Evans also signed a contract, penning a one-year deal having joined United earlier this summer to train with the Reds following his release by Leicester City.
Under the current guidelines, clubs are allowed to name up to 25 players in their Premier League squad after the transfer window shuts on September 1. However, teams cannot include more than 17 non-homegrown players on their respective lists, while the remaining players must be homegrown.
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A homegrown player is defined as “a player who, irrespective of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season which he turns 21).”
Additionally, clubs are able to name an Under-21s list, with these players not officially being included in the senior group and, thus, freeing up space in their 25-man Premier League squad. For the 2023/2024 season, this applies to all players born on or after January 1, 2002.
As things stand, in keeping with division rules, Ten Hag and United have 26 senior players. However, there are two stand-out candidates to be omitted from the squad. Eric Bailly has already been deemed surplus to requirements and has his No.3 shirt taken away from him, while Facundo Pellistri – who was born just 12 days before the cut-off for Under-21 players – could yet leave.
Should that not come to fruition, though, Bailly is the best bet to make way. United are, also, within their limit for non-homegrown players with 16 names on the list below fitting into that bracket.
United&aposs possible 25-man squad (* denotes a homegrown player): Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton*, Diogo Dalot, Aaron Wan-Bissaka*, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans*, Harry Maguire*, Luke Shaw*, Tyrell Malacia, Sergio Reguilon, Casemiro, Scott McTominay*, Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount*, Donny van de Beek, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Antony, Facundo Pellistri, Anthony Martial, Jadon Sancho*, Marcus Rashford*.
