Whisper it softly, but Manchester United might actually be ‘winning’ something.

There’s another month to go, but it’s so far, so good for the Jim Ratcliffe regime in the EPL’s summer transfer window.

Sticking with Erik ten Hag has provided stability and now they’ve made their first signings that fit their target profile of 18 to 25 with rich potential.

Joshua Zirkzee, a wide attacker, and centre-back Leny Yoro, a notable ‘steal’ from under the nose of Real Madrid, have cost over £100m between them.

They are the first deals approved by new director of football, Dan Ashworth, who United eventually prised away from Newcastle after a long wait and a hefty fee.

Ashworth described Yoro, 18, as “one of the most exciting young defenders in the world.” At £70m, he should be.

The Devils are also chasing Monaco centre-back Youssof Fofana despite interest from AC Milan, but that has not deterred the rejuvenated recruitment team.

And they haven’t given up on long-term centre-back target Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich.

After five months on ‘gardening leave’, Ashworth has certainly hit the ground running.

And his shears should be sharp enough to slash United’s bloated squad and raise more cash by selling the ‘deadwood’.

Already, the club has done well to offload the disgraced Mason Greenwood (to Marseilles) and pick up £30m for their pains.

There could now be a fire sale of seven big names who cost £320m between them.

Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Christian Eriksen are all in the final year of their contracts and are already on offer.

Others who could go are Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay and £80m Antony on whom the club faces the biggest loss of all.

Maguire cost a similar amount but had a decent couple of years before he became a social media victim.

Jadon Sancho is back in the squad but could still leave for the right offer while injury-plagued Mason Mount, a £60m recruit from Chelsea, is to be given another chance.

This is the disastrous legacy of a scattergun policy begun by Ed Woodward and which the Glazers approved.

Jim Ratcliffe is now showing he really means business after a good look around following his partial takeover.

He is also to cull 250 non-playing staff from the payroll.

Several were already chopped from the party touring the United States, where Arsenal are the opponents in New Jersey on Sunday.

But still 125 are making the trip. You wonder what they do.

Even the tunnel entrance to the pitch has been tarted up, but we are still waiting for them to tackle Britain’s highest waterfall – the leaky roof at the Stretford End.

The fast start has left other traditional Big Six clubs stuck in their starting blocks with Liverpool seemingly still in their tracksuits.

Some are still waiting for players to return from the Euros, while there was never going to be a repeat of last season’s record high £7.5bn which was distorted by a Saudi Arabian buying spree.

This time the Saudi Pro League clubs are still buying but not on the same scale.

But the main reason for the caution is the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) which grew unexpected teeth last season.

What had been considered the ‘nuclear’ option was actually used with Everton and Nottingham Forest suffering – but surviving –dreaded points deductions.

Never mind that Manchester City have still to be dealt with over the 115 alleged offences they committed over the past nine years: points deductions put the fear of God into clubs.

But not, apparently, Aston Villa, who gate-crashed the top four last season and have done as much business as the rest combined.

Having been unable to refuse an offer of €51m by Juventus for Douglas Luiz and another of €60m by Al Ittihad for Moussa Diaby, Villa have been splurging on nine players.

Most of it has gone on Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen and they have a €50m deficit to make up.

But among the recruits is former England international Ross Barkley who rescued his career at relegated Luton Town.

With eight players sold, it’s a big upheaval and not ideal when they have the Champions League to contend with as well.

That will bring in extra income but it looks as if they’ll need it.

Champions Manchester City have restricted themselves to one major signing, Savinho, a 20-year-old Brazilian winger who, Pep Guardiola claims, “is devastating in one-on-ones.”

But if stalwart goalkeeper Ederson leaves for Saudi, they could be in the market for a keeper.

Free agent David de Gea might have been an option but his feet of clay would drive Pep to distraction.

Kevin de Bruyne, on the other hand, was tempted but decided to stay.

It would be a surprise if City didn’t do more business before the window closes at the end of August.

Liverpool’s inertia can be explained by a change in manager with Arne Slot wanting a good look at his squad before deciding who he needs.

There was quite a turnover of coaching and backroom staff, too, and new football director Richard Hughes said: “It could start slowly and come to a crescendo in August.”

There are a few issues such as whether to persist with Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, both of whom don’t convert enough chances.

Cody Gakpo showed what he’s capable of in the Euros and could push Diaz for the left-wing slot.

At least Mo Salah is still there and will be hoping for a big year after a relatively disappointing season.

Elsewhere, there’s the usual flux at Chelsea, where having taken part in racist chants is making it tricky for record signing Enzo Fernandez to gel with his black teammates.

As if new boss Enzo Maresca did not have enough problems.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are worried that Eddie Howe may take the England job if it’s offered.

Spurs are quiet, too, but have secured a gem of a talent in Archie Gray, teenage grandson of the great Eddie Gray.

Arsenal’s only big signing so far looks to be Riccardo Calafiori, a 22-year-old centre-back from Bologna for £42m.

With Jurrien Timber to come back, the Gunners’ defence could be impregnable, but the perennial question is: do they need an out and out goalscorer?

Of course, a late window splurge by one club could change everything.

But if Manchester United’s new boys click and they raise £100m for further additions, this window could be a long-awaited turning point in their fortunes.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.