Manchester United navigated their first transfer window under the INEOS-powered football operations team this summer.

Led by sporting director Dan Ashworth, who spent his first two months in the job purely focused on recruitment, the club embarked on a total of 32 transactions.

Supported by CEO Omar Berrada, technical director Jason Wilcox, interim director of recruitment Christopher Vivell and manager Erik ten Hag, the club have worked hard to finally sell well, address key positions and operate in a sustainable manner.

INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford oversees the process, which is guided by the scouting and analysis departments, before sign-off from the board.

United signed four players in the priority positions of forward, centre-back and defensive midfield and that were identified prior to Ashworth's arrival. Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte were recruited - all aged 25 or under.

Right-back was not considered fundamental, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka's situation - one year on his contract with interested suitors - allowed United to change the dynamic by bringing in Noussair Mazraoui, 26, who can also cover the opposite flank.

None of the new signings have hit their ceiling yet and their character references fed into the desire of a cultural reset for the squad environment.

The tying down of Bruno Fernandes was imperative and there has been a clear focus on bringing in talented development prospects like Sekou Kone.

It has been in the outgoings where the difference really is underlined and bolded. United banked circa £87m in sales, but moreover, have been forceful with buy-back and sell-on clauses.

What were the main talking points?

Dispelling the notion that Man Utd only buys players Erik ten Hag knows

Jadon Sancho wanted to move on

Contracts structured in a way that can deliver value in the short-term and future

Financial rules (PSR) are appreciated and respected

In conversation: Ashworth and Berrarda explain strategy

Q: How would you describe the squad you inherited?

Ashworth: "Well first of all, I didn't inherit it. We did at Manchester United, we're a team in all of this, so from the first of July [when he officially joined the club] there had already been some decisions made about key areas of the pitch to strengthen.

"We'd already lost two or three key players: Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial and Sofyan Amrabat from memory had all gone, so there was a centre back, a central midfielder player/six, and a centre forward were the key and we felt we probably would need another centre back as well. They were the four key positions we really wanted to strengthen in this window and we've done that - by bringing in Zirkzee, Ugarte, Yoro and De Ligt.

"That was fundamentally, as I walked in, the pre-agreed positions, partly because of exits and partly because of the view they were areas we wanted to strengthen our depth and quality.

"Mazraoui and Wan-Bissaka was one where Aaron had a year left on his contract, had an opportunity to move on, so we were able to freshen it up and trade that position.

"And I also go back to the financial rules and regulations that you rightly have to act within. So it's not just as simple as being able to change everybody, nor do we want to, it's just about making good decisions in the next few windows to maximise our resources and the talent we've already put in the squad and the talent that's coming through the system."

Q: Ten Hag had a lot of power in the old recruitment structure, and it seems that has continued with the incomings this summer?

Ashworth: "Again, I can't comment on what's happened previously, I don't know how they've made the decisions on players coming in, and as I've already alluded to, it's a joined-up process: we looked at objective, subjective opinions and come up with the best possible solution we can to fill the positions we have identified.

"It is natural in human nature to work with somebody you've worked with previously in all contexts, in all business contexts. That is a natural sway because you know that person, because you know that player, but also we've signed a number of players this summer that haven't worked with Erik: Yoro, Ugarte. And he'd never worked with Zirkzee - you can't say just because he's Dutch he knows him.

"He's worked with Matthijs and Noussair previously. They were both on our radar and it's a joined-up decision on who comes in and out of this football club."

Q: What happened with Sancho?

Ashworth: "I think with any player, whether it's Jadon, whether it's Scott [McTominay] or whether it's Aaron, if there's a preference that they would like to move and go to a new club and it's right for them and it's right for us, then you have to explore it.

"We felt we had enough depth in that particular position to be able to cover it, we've got four really good wide players, Jadon was a fifth, and it just enabled us to make that decision. If it was good for him and good for us it was something we were willing to consider."

Q: So was the truce not effective? Did Jadon not have a future at the club?

Ashworth: "Nothing to do with that. It was a decision that we made - if it's right for Jadon and it's right for us to move on. He wanted to explore the opportunity at Chelsea, like Scott wanted to explore the opportunity at Napoli, like Aaron wanted to explore the opportunity at West Ham. We're not in a position where we're kicking players out of the club."

Q: Are you confident with the squad?

Ashworth: I like the squad. I would say that after the business we've done in the summer. I've probably done 25 windows now and been doing this for a fair period of time.

"I don't think there's ever been a window where we've gone, 'it's gone absolutely perfectly, we've done every single in, we've done every single out we wanted to do'. There are always bits, 'if only I could have got that over the line.'

"But in the main, the target positions we wanted to strengthen, the players we've brought in, the depth and options when everybody is fully fit that Erik has, and we have as a club, I'm pleased with that, yeah."