That is not true. The are the top apparent young targets that everyone is going after i.e the Hallands, Nunez, Touchameni. You are going to loose out on those players to Madrid, City, Pool no question.
But there are other targets who are not as well known who you can get if you have proper scouting. Rangnick literally suggested some of those players while he was here and we didn't go after them. He suggested Luiz Diaz, Julian Alvarez, Denis Zakaria , Nkunku, Dusan
We didn't go after them and those players were either signed up by other clubs or got new contracts with their current clubs.
These players who are a better fit longterm are available. UTD are either too slow in acting to sign them or don't scout them properly. We need to stop excusing their transfer policy. We can build for the long term with better decision making and better scouting. We shouldn't go after players who are exiting their prime. Sure we can all get excited in the short term. But 2,3 years from now we will be looking to replace them. It makes no sense at all. Go after someone who can fill the need for 7- 10 years. Otherwise are in a constant state of rebuild. We have been in one since SAF left and its because there is no planning for the long-term
Well, we got some talented player before.
Martial (20 years old to join us) - We are still waiting to see his full potential, we bought him when he was not well known
Sancho (21 years old to join us) - We are still waiting and hoping to see his full potential (His stat was fearful than Nkunku in Bundesliga)
Pogba (22/23 years old to rejoin us) - We are still waiting his Juventus and French performance after his left
Jones (19 years old to join us) - We are still waiting his potential of doing paper work
But you never know how far they can develop to..Also, young star always inconsistent than developed players. (Any exception? of cause) This season, we have no chance to try and error to this season after two shite matches.
Then all of your mentioned players are joining the teams who easily got into CL football in past few years. They have a high fault tolerance to try some prospected players and wait the players adjusting in few months or a few years because they have a well-built starting lineup without prospected player). But we need pull the plug players to get the result immediately to avoid we got relegation/back to CL football and we haven't a well run starting lineup yet.
Moreover, we got two 22-24 years old player under ETH in this transfer window already (Malacia & Martinez)