From United's perspective, however, this signing can only be described as questionable at best. Neither of Mount's possible positions - central and attacking midfielder - are positions of need for United as they head into the 2023-24 season. Mount is unlikely to supplant either Christian Eriksen or Bruno Fernandes from United's starting 11. Essentially, United have likely just paid a large amount of money for a player likely to spend most weeks on the bench.
Mount's transfer fee would have already been an overpay (albeit a slight one) had he been almost certain to start regularly for the Red Devils, highlighting how unnecessary this signing appears to be. Furthermore, United could have signed players at that same position who not only would have cost much less, but are also younger and have higher ceilings than Mount's. Players like Daniel Ugarte who just left Sporting CP for Paris Saint-Germain, Xavi Simons of PSV Eindhoven, Mohammed Kudus of Ajax, and Khéphren Thuram of OGC Nice would all have been more reasonable pickups.
However, as was earlier mentioned, central and attacking midfield are not major issues for United at the moment. United ought to have been primarily focusing on landing a top-tier centre-forward - something they have not had on their roster since Robin van Persie's first season there a decade ago. It is no coincidence that the season in question, the 2012-13 season, was United's most recent Premier League triumph; with van Persie spearheading the charge up front, no club even came close as United put together a dominant season to win the league by 11 points. More recently, United's tally of 58 league goals last season was only joint-seventh among the 20 Premier League teams and just seven goals more than the tally of the relegated Leicester City. That statistic along should make it clear where United's priorities ought to lie.
As if all of that weren't already enough, United have gone on to bestow the iconic number 7 jersey on Mount. One of the most legendary jersey numbers in the history of world football, there have been many all-time greats who suffocated under the pressure of playing in United's number 7. Not even the likes of Alexis Sánchez and Ángel Di María were able to live with the expectations that came with donning that illustrious number. Given his track record to date, it does not seem even remotely likely that Mount will go on to become United's next great number 7. More than likely, he will end up another name who has fallen by the wayside in that jersey.
This transfer not only makes hardly any sense for United; Mount may have stalled his own career progression by signing for the red half of Manchester. If he does indeed go on to struggle at United, it could very well end up sending his once-promising career into a downward spiral as his stock plummets. Additionally, the European Championships are just a year from now. If Mount does not have a good season at United, his spot in the England squad could be in jeopardy. Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham are almost certainly locks and likely starters for the Three Lions. Mount actually lost his place as an England starter over the course of last year's World Cup. If he cannot demonstrate why United paid so much money to sign him, he might not even be part of the group that goes to Germany next summer.
Of course, there is still every chance that Mason Mount could go on to prove me wrong and silence any doubters regarding his upcoming first season at Manchester United. However, both the club's track record and current situation in relation to Mount's current player profile indicate that this is not likely to be so.
If United go on to miss out on a top-four spot, they might end up ruing this transfer - one which would have sapped them of much-needed money which could have been put to far better use.
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