Man Utd could have had scary XI with six different transfers including Chelsea star

Manchester United spent over £200million on five players and addressed some key areas in the summer transfer market. Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Senne Lammens and Diego Leon all arrived as the Red Devils attempt to return to European football.

Ruben Amorim has been backed and now needs to vastly improve on last season's miserable 15th-placed finish. Whether he and the INEOS top brass have made the right decisions in recruitment will become clear with time, but there were plenty of alternatives on the market.

Here, Express Sport has examined how their team might have shaped up if United had taken a different direction...

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Manchester City completed the £27m signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma hours after Monday's transfer deadline, shipping out Ederson to accommodate the former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper.

United were interested when Donnarumma was first put on the market, but backed away due to the size of the overall financial package required. They similarly forwent Emi Martinez in favour of youngster Lammens, but perhaps experience is required between the posts after years of mistakes from Andre Onana.

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Defence

Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Jorrel Hato

United kept their powder dry regarding defensive signings, aside from teenage wing-back Leon, and Luke Shaw has started the season in a back three with Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt.

But Shaw has struggled with his fitness in recent years and a specialist such as Jorrel Hato might have been considered.

The former Ajax wonderkid headed to Chelsea for £37m this summer but could have transformed United's left side of defence, at least until Lisandro Martinez returns. But Hato's supreme versatility would have made him a strong option beyond that date.

Midfield

Amad, Mateus Fernandes, Joao Palhinha, Rayan Ait Nouri

A lack of balance has been cited in the current midfield partnership of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, but two available players this summer may have complemented each other perfectly.

Joao Palhinha has impressed as a defensive midfielder since joining Tottenham on loan from Bayern Munich and there has been previous interest in the tough-tackling Portuguese star.

While his compatriot, Mateus Fernandes, could have joined the Portugal contingent at Old Trafford. He impressed at Southampton enough to earn a £40m move to West Ham and made an immediate impact on his debut, starring in a 3-0 away to Nottingham Forest.

Patrick Dorgu has held down the left-wing-back spot under Amorim since his January arrival, but Rayan Ait Nouri is one of the top players in that position in the Premier League, and was allowed to head to rivals Manchester City for just £31m. The Algerian would have been a perfect fit in Amorim's 3-4-3.

Attack

Bryan Mbeumo, Liam Delap, Bruno Fernandes

With new midfield additions, Bruno Fernandes could have been freed up to concentrate his efforts further forward and supply United's first-choice striker option, Liam Delap.

The 22-year-old had an offer on the table from United after his release clause at Ipswich was willing to be triggered, but he ultimately chose Chelsea and Champions League football.

But his path has been blocked somewhat by Joao Pedro's barnstorming start at Stamford Bridge and perhaps Old Trafford, without such competition, might have been the better move for all parties.

Man Utd's potential scary XI

Donnarumma; Yoro, De Ligt, Hato; Amad, M. Fernandes, Palhinha, Ait Nouri; Mbeumo, Delap, B. Fernandes.