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The World Cup finals may be imminent, but for most Manchester United fans it’s always been club over country – and by a distance too.

There are United fans who go to 50 games a season home and away who’ve never watched England. They’re more at home with Welsh, Irish, Scottish or Dutch supporters of their own team than compatriots who hang the cross of St George behind the goal of a foreign football field.

If you follow a big club like United, one that usually plays half a dozen European away games each season – though not next term – then you’re unlikely to have the time, money or inclination to do the same with England. One or two go to England matches, but you’ll more likely see flags with smaller club names on than ‘Manchester United’ or ‘Liverpool’ at England games.

The World Cup will still be followed with great interest. England remain the favoured team of many United fans, but Reds will look out for how their players or former personnel do – Shinji Kagawa for Japan, Juan Mata and David De Gea for the world champions, Antonio Valencia for Ecuador, Marouanne Fellaini for Belgium, Diego Forlan for Uruguay, the Carlos Queiroz -managed Iran or Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani for Portugal. Louis van Gaal’s Holland will be scrutinised in detail, with Robin van Persie up front.

Of more interest, though, will be who United are signing this summer. The season may have only finished a month ago, but there’s disquiet that there have been no signings so far. Nerves, too, after the failure in the transfer market last summer.

United fans have seen their team linked with a myriad of names that will eventually come close to the 200 linked with the club last summer, but not one has signed.

The club will ask for patience as the transfer market doesn’t close until the start of September, but fans don’t want a repeat of last year. They want the club to be organised and efficient in the transfer market, to make up for the perceived intransigence of 2013. They’re tired of hearing about journalists being briefed on which players are coming; they want to see those players actually signed and be pictured on the Old Trafford pitch holding a garish red and white scarf and lying about how they’re lifelong United fans.

United know they need to get it right. There is money in place for signings and three high earning players – Giggs, Vidic and Ferdinand – are off the payroll, though Vidic wishes he wasn’t. He acted in haste and made his decision to leave in the middle of Moyes’ reign.

United are very confident that Chelsea fan Luke Shaw will be coming to the club. His family have long preferred him to come to Old Trafford, where, with support from Patrice Evra, he’ll become United’s long term left-back. Rival clubs are insinuating that the Shaw deal hasn’t been done yet and they’re not out of the running. They’re right, but United remain clear favourites.

Van Gaal has worked up a list of his preferred signings with Ed Woodward. Inducing them to put pen to paper is an altogether different issue. United were working towards acquiring one set of players under Moyes, now – one or two aside – they’re targeting other players. Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels is the one United feel closest to signing.

United chased Cesc Fabregas hard last summer, but felt like they were messed about. So they’re once bitten twice shy with the Catalan now. Regardless of their public utterances, Barça will sell Fabregas, who has been less than the expected spectacular for them since returning three years ago. Fabregas, 27, doesn’t want to leave, but doesn’t want to stay where he’s not wanted either. Knowing that Barça think they’re sitting on a goldmine with Fabregas as they consider him perfect for the Premier League, English clubs are playing it cool. Their perception of Fabregas doesn’t match Barça’s.

Most of those responsible for making the decisions are either on holiday or involved in the World Cup finals. More patience is likely to be required and as a result United shouldn’t expect a flood of fresh season ticket enquiries just yet.