Little more than a week into the transfer window, and it’s clear that this is going to be a busy one for Manchester United.
A £39million deal has already been agreed with Atalanta for Brazil midfielder Ederson who will complete his move to Old Trafford after the World Cup.
He is the first of three midfielders United hope to sign this summer as they continue talks with West Ham over Mateus Fernandes and consider other options.
A left-sided attacker is the other priority, and the club are likely to sign a left back and new No 2 goalkeeper.
So what are United’s plans and how likely are they to achieve their targets this summer?
Manchester United are interested in West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, but they face competition from clubs including Tottenham
Bournemouth’s Alex Scott could be one of the first options United turn to if they cannot sign Fernandes
Battle for Fernandes
Midfield was always going to be United’s main focus as they seek replacements for Casemiro and, in all likelihood, Manuel Ugarte, and the issue has largely dominated their transfer dealings so far.
A deal for Ederson was wrapped up very early, once again demonstrating the club’s willingness to move quickly in the market as they did in signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo a year ago.
The Ederson transfer was helped by United facing relatively little competition once Atletico Madrid made it clear they wouldn’t match Atalanta’s valuation, but that has not been the case with Fernandes.
West Ham are hoping to ramp up a bidding war for the Portuguese star with Tottenham seemingly prepared to meet the £85m asking price. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are also believed to be monitoring the situation.
Fernandes is in United’s price range, certainly more so than their previous top target Elliot Anderson who seems destined to join Manchester City from Nottingham Forest after his value rocketed past the £100m mark.
There is a feeling that Anderson’s move to City will kickstart the midfield merry-go-round among Premier League clubs this summer, not least in setting a benchmark for transfer fees.
A potential £126m deal is indicative of the premium prices being quoted, and United must decide if they are prepared to offer more than double the £40m West Ham paid Southampton for Fernandes less than a year ago.
They remain in talks with the Hammers without yet making a formal bid, but it’s been clear for some time that the player’s personal terms would not be an obstacle.
United’s interest in Sandro Tonali appears to have cooled in recent months, with the Italian subject to a bid from Tottenham
The Red Devils are continuing to monitor Aurelien Tchouameni’s situation at Real Madrid
Bournemouth’s Alex Scott could be one of the first options United turn to if they cannot sign Fernandes, although he would be a cheaper alternative – and so would his team-mate Tyler Adams, who has admirers at Old Trafford.
Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba are among the other midfielders on United’s radar, and they are continuing to monitor Aurelien Tchouameni’s situation at Real Madrid. It’s understood the Frenchman wants to stay at the club, but Jose Mourinho is still assessing the squad following his return to the Bernabeu.
United’s interest in Sandro Tonali appears to have cooled in recent months, and the Italian is attracting strong interest from Manchester City and Tottenham who have had a £75m bid rejected by Newcastle.
Signing a cheaper, third midfielder to provide competition and support among the squad next season is part of United’s thinking, but it’s likely to depend on offloading Ugarte two years after his £50m move from PSG.
Shea Charles, well known to director of football Jason Wilcox from their time together at City and Southampton, was considered an option but Leeds are leading the chase for him after having a £20m bid rejected by Saints.
Rashford dilemma
A left-sided attacker is another position United have prioritised this summer with Fernandes’ team-mate at West Ham, Crysencio Summerville, high on the list of targets.
The Hammers want around £50m for Summerville, who has been impressing at the World Cup for the Netherlands.
However, the situation has been complicated by uncertainty over Marcus Rashford’s future. Rashford, who has also enjoyed a good start to the tournament with England, is due back at United in a few weeks’ time after his loan spell at Barcelona ended with the Catalans deciding not to trigger an option to buy him for £26m before last week’s deadline.
Marcus Rashford had a positive season on loan at Barcelona but the Catalans decided not to trigger an option to buy him for £26m before last week’s deadline
The 28-year-old is said to have a good relationship with United boss Michael Carrick
Barca may return for Rashford, although United are reluctant to discuss another loan. They were prepared to sell Rashford to Aston Villa for £40m a year ago, and that is still a figure they would accept from most clubs with the exception of Liverpool and City.
United are keen to move his £315,000-a-week salary off their wage bill, but he is under contract at Old Trafford until 2028. The 28-year-old, who is said to have a good relationship with United boss Michael Carrick, is prepared to return for pre-season training after the World Cup with an expectation of being reintegrated into the squad.
If United cannot find Rashford a new club, can they commit to signing Summerville or another left-sided attacker while he remains on the books? There is a feeling that the Rashford saga could run until late in the window.
Hall in good time
United are in the market for cover and competition at left back after Tyrell Malacia left at the end of a season that saw Luke Shaw start every Premier League game.
With Shaw unlikely to stay injury-free for an entire campaign again, Patrick Dorgu flourishing in a more advanced role, and Diego Leon not yet ready to be a regular in the match-day squad, it’s an area United would like to strengthen.
Newcastle’s highly-rated Lewis Hall has been mentioned as a potential target, but it’s unlikely United would have the money left over to do a deal of that magnitude this summer.
Having invested heavily in their attack a year ago by signing Cunha, Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, and focused on the midfield now, United are expected to address their defensive situation in more depth at the end of next season.
Shaw, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are due to be out of contract then, but it’s possible Shaw could sign a new deal, and the club also have an option to keep Maguire and Martinez for another year.
Harry Amass is set to share the left-back duties with Shaw in pre-season after recovering from the injury that cut short his loan spell at Norwich after just one game, although Amass is likely to go out on loan again next season.
Newcastle’s highly-rated left back Lewis Hall has been mentioned as a potential target, but it’s unlikely United would have the money left over to do a deal of that magnitude this summer
England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who started his career at United, is an option being considered
New keeper on the cards
Senne Lammens was voted the Premier League’s transfer of the season, and signing the Belgian from Royal Antwerp for £21.7m last summer solved a problem position for United after a turbulent couple of years with Andre Onana in goal.
With Onana set for a permanent exit after a season on loan at Trabzonspor, and Altay Bayindir likely to follow, United are looking for a new No 2 keeper.
They are keen on Karl Darlow, but it now appears more likely that he will sign a new two-year contract at Leeds. Wolves and England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who started his career at United, is another option being considered.
However, United may have to wait until they know what is happening with Onana and Bayindir before committing to a deal.
Radek Vitek is expected to feature in pre-season before going out on loan again. United have already signed 40-year-old veteran Tom Heaton to a new 12-month contract to continue as third-choice in recognition of his work helping Lammens to integrate and as a leader in the dressing room.
