THE overseas route resulted in the worst season in more than half a century.
Now have made a major transfer strategy change.
But if this one doesn’t work, then questions will have to be asked about the entire state of English football’s biggest club.
While many United fans wanted to see more business - and certainly earlier signings - over the summer, it is clear that the hierarchy are backing .
The swift signing of £62.5m Brazilian from Wolves was, eventually, followed by the weekend capture of Brentford’s , for a tidy £65m up front plus a further £6m in potential add-ons.
But United also made a move - admittedly a failed one - for , who decided to join Chelsea when Ipswich were relegated.
And while their other key attacking target, Sporting Lisbon’s , seems intent on joining Arsenal, he also fits the new blueprint.
Not necessarily players currently in the Premier League - but definitely those who know what English football is all about.
Cunha’s two seasons at Molineux have brought him 31 goals, with 27 of them in the Prem.
Yes, there were also , one for a tear-up with an Ipswich steward, the other for losing it completely in a , but at least the Brazilian is battle-ready.
Likewise, Mbeumo played 239 games for the Bees over six seasons, part of their rise from the into Prem mainstays.
The Cameroonian has demonstrated, already, that he knows exactly what it takes to succeed in the toughest league in world football.
Even the players United have looked to land and missed out on fitted that bill.
Delap may have had just one campaign in the top flight but he has both family pedigree through his dad Rory but also that schooling at the Etihad.
Gyokeres played at Brighton and Coventry before moving to Portugal, while United have also been linked with Aston Villa’s World Cup-winning keeper Emi Martinez.
By contrast, other than the £55m paid out to land injury-plagued - and Amorim will have his fingers crossed the midfielder can have a full season of availability - in 2023, the past few years have all been about trawling the global market rather than scouring and scouting closer to home.
Last summer, even though had only kept his job by the skin of his teeth and that triumph over City, United splashed out nearly £170m on Leny Yoro, , Manual Ugarte and , none of whom had kicked a ball in England.
Before that, there was £120m spent on and Rasmus Hojlund, with , Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrrell Malacia costing another arm and a leg in 2022.
Indeed, other than Mount, you have to go back to 2019, when United signed , and , to find examples of the club buying first team starters from Prem rivals.
Christian Eriksen was also signed from loan-club Brentford in 2021 - but as a free agent.
It is a significant move by United yet one that could expose, to even more certainty, the fault-lines within the club.
If going the “proven Prem” route does not bring success either - although, after last term, keeping Amorim for the entire campaign, maybe winning the and securing European football might be a new definition of success - then it will be evidence for the prosecution.
Amorim promised things would be better - and such vows can come back to bite.
The trouble is that Amorim has inherited a squad that is simply not designed for the tactics and formation he is wedded to.
Even the new acquisitions - and surely there must be more by the time the transfer window shuts on September 1 - do not look like being the solution at all the problems last term threw up.
United did not score enough. Did not create enough. Conceded far too many. Lacked imagination and poise.
As for confidence and self-belief - they are through the floor.
And while the Portuguese can put in the hours with his squad on the training ground, he cannot do anything about the myriad of other issues at the club.
and Ineos knew that their would not be popular internally - although they insist it was a step that needed to be taken.
Yet the Glazer debt remains the financial elephant in the room, while Ratcliffe’s ambitious plans for an are still, at this stage, an expression of hope rather than a reality.
United fans are looking for reasons for optimism and hope.
But you do feel that negative signs will only deepen the clouds of doubt and concern.
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And unless this is a season of progress, it will surely only confirm that truly seismic change, both on and off the pitch, is the only way forward.
The Red Devils will jet off to the United States this week ahead of three matches as part of the Premier League’s Summer Series.
United’s first faceWest Ham on Saturday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where next year’s World Cup final will he held.
Amorim’s side will then take onBournemouthat 2:30am BST next Thursday in Chicago, and Everton at 10pm BST on August 3 in Atlanta.
