Premier League spends 2.2 billion on players, but Manchester United remains unmoved! Ratcliffe's evaluation of signings has been going on for over a month.

The Premier League's transfer spending is still rising, with the aggregate acquisition cost of the 20 clubs now close to 2.2 billion pounds, and the net expenditure (cost of buying players minus proceeds from sales) has exceeded 850 million pounds.

Furthermore, two of the four clubs with the highest spending are surprising names. The total transfer investment of the three promoted teams, Coventry City, Ipswich Town, and Hull City, has reached 330 million pounds. Ipswich and Coventry have even seen their net spending exceed 100 million pounds each, ranking second and fourth respectively. Among them, Championship winner Coventry has already spent 150 million pounds on reinforcements.

The Premier League newcomers are clearly inspired by the survival of Sunderland and Leeds United last season. Their current spending is only 45 million pounds less than the total expenditure of Sunderland, Burnley, and Leeds United last year, with two weeks left in the transfer window. In the previous two consecutive seasons, all promoted teams were relegated, but Sunderland and Leeds proved that spending money can indeed save you from relegation.

In contrast, Manchester United and Liverpool have been relatively quiet. Liverpool's total spending is 91 million pounds, more than half of which went to sign Jeremy Jacquet, a deal finalized in February. Even lower on the spending list is Manchester United, who have only spent 93 million pounds on signings, with a net spending of 44 million pounds, ranking 13th in the Premier League. This represents a significant decline compared to the past.

In the first two years after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's acquisition of the club, Manchester United spent over 500 million pounds on new players. Now Ratcliffe has suddenly started saving money. With two weeks left in the transfer window, if United does not act, it is highly unlikely that the current Premier League spending will surpass the record of 3.1 billion pounds (net spending 1.3 billion pounds) set last year.

Excluding the transactions of under-20 players used to fill the squad, Manchester United has been inactive in the transfer market for over a month. Manager Carrick also expressed some helplessness when talking about transfer targets: "We hope to improve in one or two positions and have clearly conveyed the message that we must continue to work hard. There are some things we want to try to do, but they must be the right ones."

Manchester United had a quick week at the start of the summer window, with two main new signings, Andre Santos and Youri Tielemans, joining during that period. However, the club has done nothing since. Insiders insist that this is an active decision to pause signings, evaluate current options, and observe Carrick's team in preseason matches. Additionally, some transfers take time to develop, so the club chose to wait.

But this so-called "evaluation" has lasted over a month. With only two weeks left in the transfer window and Carrick clearly expressing his desire to strengthen the squad, fans are calling for United to act quickly. However, if United buys players now, they may have to replicate the situation of signing Santos and Tielemans, finding some "out of nowhere" target players.

Now, the players linked to Manchester United seem unattainable. Left-back is the main target, and midfield is also a position that needs reinforcement. Players who can cover both positions are especially attractive, such as Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly, who performed well as a midfielder for Arsenal in the Community Shield but originally entered the first team as a left-back.

Manchester United have obtained the opportunity to sign Skelly through intermediaries, but the player himself prefers to stay at Arsenal, so this deal is likely off. United also seriously considered Newcastle United's Lewis Hall, but the "Magpies" insist that the 21-year-old English player is not for sale. Belgian club Club Brugge also insists that the international left-back Joaquin Seis, who has been linked with United, will not leave, even for 40 million euros.

Jorge Salinas from Racing Santander in La Liga is a cheaper option, with a release clause of 16 million euros (13 million pounds). Manchester United may consider signing him first, then waiting until next summer to sign Hall while offloading the 31-year-old Luke Shaw.

Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic reports that the three main players who could leave Manchester United in the final half-month are: Championship side West Brom are currently in the early stages of making an offer for 22-year-old midfielder Toby Collyer, and other clubs have also expressed interest. It is expected that clubs will also be interested in Manchester United's 19-year-old left-back Harry Amass. Juventus and Napoli have already held negotiations regarding Zirkzee.