Donny van de Beek remains the club's only summer signing to date with the transfer deadline slightly over a fortnight away on October 5.
Former Red Devils centre back Rio Ferdinand is the latest club legend to speak out against their lack of activity so far.
Comparing United's business to Chelsea's, Ferdinand told Five YouTube Channel: 'Frank (Lampard) has made signing players like it's the norm, like it's easy - water off a duck's back.
'The difference in the way Chelsea have done their business compared to say my team Man United… there is no noise, there's nothing going on, all you're seeing is bang - deal.
'Little bit of talk, bang-deal. That is what's frustrating for me and all the Man United fans.'
So, why have United been slow in the market so far? Sportsmail analyses why...
Who have they signed?
So far, just Van de Beek who joined in a £40million transfer from Dutch giants Ajax earlier this month.
The 23-year-old automatically bolsters Manchester United's central midfield options - which looked particularly light around the festive period.
The Dutchman could now form part of an exciting midfield trio alongside Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes. While it is a welcome addition, more is needed at Old Trafford.
How does it compare to their rivals?
Not great, not great at all. Manchester United may have finished third last season but they would do well to repeat that display following their rivals' investment.
Champions Liverpool have also made one just one signing so far, in left back Kostas Tsimikas, but they are closing on midfielder Thiago Alcantara. The Bayern Munich superstar is one of the world's best and is without doubt a statement signing.
Runners-up Manchester City have bolstered in the shape of exciting winger Ferran Torres and centre back Nathan Ake - both have been linked with a move to United this summer.
Arsenal have been shrewd in the market and Willian made an impressive debut in the 3-0 win over Fulham, assisting all three goals, while Tottenham have brought Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Matt Doherty to improve their starting XI. Spurs are close to completing the return of Gareth Bale from Real Madrid too, albeit on loan, which will add an undoubted X-factor to an impressive frontline that includes Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
Without doubt though, Chelsea have caught the eye this transfer window. The Blues who finished below United on goal difference last term, who have spent more than £230m on six players so far. Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz can all expect to start for Lampard's side, hence Ferdinand's comments.
Where do Manchester United need to strengthen?
A right winger is a priority - a position the club have failed to fill properly since Nani's departure. Mason Greenwood excelled in that role after football's restart, but manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows he needs to sign a permanent fixture there allowing Greenwood to develop as a central striker.
A left back and a centre back are the two other causes for concern. Luke Shaw is first-choice in the former but the England international has been beset by injuries so cover is needed.
Brandon Williams performed brilliantly there throughout last season, but he could be switched to right back - vying for that role with Aaron Wan-Bissaka. As for centre back, it's clear that a more athletic defender would compliment the skills of captain Harry Maguire.
Who could they sign?
Very good question considering United's transfer policy this window.
Jadon Sancho remains the No 1 target and would undoubtedly improve their frontline - in what would be a true statement of intent to United's rivals.
Sancho provides skill, poise, end product and overall X-factor that would provide another weapon in United's armoury and his numbers this season testify to that.
In 32 Bundesliga games for Dortmund he scored an incredible 17 goals alongside 16 assists as they finished second. This output made him Dortmund's top goalscorer and assist-maker in the league.
However, United have been at loggerheads with Borussia Dortmund over their £108m valuation for the forward. And as a result, United are looking at other targets to fill the right-flank void.
Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman, Juventus' Douglas Costa and Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan are all alternative targets. Out of those aforementioned names, Perisic is the most likely to join but his age (31) is a detrimental factor to United's youthful transfer policy.
They want a back up left back and are talking to agent Pini Zahavi about Alex Telles at Porto in what could be a potential £17m transfer. Meanwhile, at centre back Dayot Upamecano remains one option but Bayern Munich are among his suitors and any move for the RB Leipzig star is more likely next summer.
As for in attack, Josh King is hoping United reignite their interest for him after they failed to re-sign the Bournemouth forward in the January transfer window.
Why have they had a conservative window so far?
Sportsmail understands that there is a feeling United don't have the money to pay the big fees required for targets at the moment such as with Sancho.
With the coronavirus pandemic affecting everyone, United would prefer to pay large sums via decent installments or alternatively do loan deals with obligations to buy outright afterwards. A right winger on loan, for example, is the more likely outcome at present unless Dortmund change their stance on Sancho and accept a package of several installments. At present, that is not happening.
United are determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past few years which has seen them make some costly errors in the transfer market. And this has been heightened by the pandemic.
Speaking about the club's financial situation in April, United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward warned that big-money transfers 'ignore the realities that face the sport'.
'We have always believed that our commercial model gives us greater resilience than most clubs and we are grateful for the enduring support of our commercial partners in helping us achieve that,' he said.
'However, nobody should be under any illusions about the scale of challenge facing everyone in football and it may not be 'business as usual' for any clubs, including ourselves, in the transfer market this summer.
'As ever, our priority is the success of team, but we need visibility of the impact across the whole industry, including timings of the transfer window, and the wider financial picture, before we can talk about a return to normality.
'On this basis, I cannot help feeling that speculation around transfers of individual players for hundreds of millions of pounds this summer seems to ignore the realities that face the sport.'
However, this conservative approach doesn't look good in comparison to their top-four rivals - and especially Chelsea.
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