07 Aug 2026 13:05:24
I'm struck by how few rumours there about who we might be targeting. That means one of a few things.
1. We are doing things quietly in the background and keeping it all very quiet.
2. We have things lined up ready to go, but are not ready to announce.
3. We aren't really chasing anyone.
I'd love it to be the first or second but fear it is the third. I know we owed a lot on previous transfers but given our net spend is so low, you would assume there is still money available.
After a solid window last year, this one feels somewhat different. I'm happy with the 2 we have bought but given all the extra games, and the injury record of a few, we need numbers, and decent players too.
I haven't heard one rumour this week, not of any reliability, which just seems very odd.
1.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 13:35:51
I think the fact we did Santos and Tielemans without anyone getting a wiff of them means we're operating with very few knowing.
Obviously, as the days go on, there is some cause for concern, but I would assume there will be plenty of players moving, causing a domino effect as we go.
I think Rashford staying has scuppered their plans a bit.
If he stays, he can deputise on the left and up front in a pinch. That means less time for Dorgu, who maybe then seen as a left-back back-up for Shaw.
None of that is ideal, and I don't personally see Dorgu as a full-back, but I would assume Rashford and him would be fighting for minutes from Cunha.
One or two players start moving, and it will all kick off.
2.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 13:51:56
Ajh
Yes, that echoes my concerns.
The owners are the Glazers, and they have form for this.
I so want to be wrong, but I am worried they are going to fudge this window. Maybe someone comes in late, heralded as the answer, 1 when we need 3.
No news is good news except when the Glazers are concerned.
3.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 13:54:13
Actually, Ajh, if you want one rumour, then noise is that Wilcox and Vivell disagree on targets, and there is a power struggle, hence the silence.
4.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 14:25:00
Ajh agreed on all of what you said.
I think they have bought a little bit of leeway given how well they did last year.
I expect 2/3 senior signings. I believe they have made 5 first team signings already, but only 3 senior, so let's see. As I said, they've bought a little leeway and time given how well they've done so far.
It's not so simple, particularly in a World Cup year. Historically, business is done later.
3 weeks, I'm very optimistic.
The fact there are no leaks is a good thing, because there could be a lot going on right now that no one knows.
5.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 14:30:54
Red Man, if that's correct, then Wilcox would want to make sure we don't have a poor start to the season, after he and Berrada ran Ashworth out of town. If it's the same with Vivell, then you better make sure you succeed.
Ratcliffe and Co could do what the Glazers failed to.
They could unite the match going fans into getting off their arses and actually protest about the running of the club.
With Ineos cutting staff, canceling season tickets, poor remarks on immigration, failure to invest, they actually could be speed running the fans turning against them.
6.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 14:43:36
It's not a power struggle for Wilcox and Vivell to disagree. That's a completely normal thing in a well-run operation. Them not challenging each other would be far more problematic. It's only an issue if it leads to indecisiveness, and we have no evidence for that.
I'm not looking to defend Ineos, but some of the criticisms suggest a total lack of understanding of how decision-making in major organisations takes place.
7.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 14:55:13
I think people are reading far too much into the Santos and Tielemans signings. It's not the case that the club was working on these transfers in secret. More that the club has to change transfer plans rapidly.
They weren't able to sign Anderson or Fernandes. Santos was made available for transfer, and the club acted quickly.
Ederson's medical scuppered his move. The club activated Tielemans's release clause as an alternative.
They're not some cloak and dagger geniuses. They simply adapted quickly to not getting their preferred players. Given how reluctant they have been to spend since then, I'm of the opinion that they have nothing else planned. They'll wait to see if an opportunity presents itself (for example, if Madrid sign Rodri and Touchemeni is available). If it doesn't, we're back to no value in the market.
8.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 15:19:28
Angel, how do you rate the window if we ended it as it is now? I know it's 3 weeks still, and you are optimistic, but let's talk hypothetically. Would you humour me, please? Just say, out of 10, how would you rate it as of today? Remember, we play a lot more games this season, and we ran Bruno into the ground last season.
9.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 15:39:37
It feels like there are too many cooks at board level with opinions on targets. I'm probably horribly wrong, but shouldn't it just be the manager and the DOF to discuss targets, with the money people then working out what's feasible? Feels like there are a couple of extra layers to these discussions with us.
10.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 15:45:42
Funny how nobody has had a clue all summer about our transfers, but apparently the board have leaked to a random guy on X that we have problems at board level. He's got a lot of views, though, so it worked.
If the window ended now, 4/10 for me. The midfielders we have signed will see us improve, and it will give chances for youth to step up, but I think we need at least 3 more senior players to push that up to an 8/9 window.
11.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 15:49:31
4.5/10 UA, if it stays like this. Wouldn't be a good window. We clearly need more.
12.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 16:04:59
That's about fair, Angel. Thanks! I would rate it similarly. Perhaps that's where the disappointment is stemming from: we haven't moved quickly enough. Fingers crossed we get a good ending to the window.
13.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 16:12:45
I'll judge it in full at the end of the window.
We are doing business very differently these days, and it's down to the fact that we had incompetent individuals run the footballing side of this club for too long.
14.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 15:52:00
Danny, I don't believe that at all.
Ratcliffe, Berrada, Vivell, Wilcox and team are highly competent individuals. This isn't ed woodward and co.
I'm sure they have things planned, plans change and they act quickly if needed.
Again, 5/5 last summer, best window I remember in I don't know how long. These guys have already proven they know what they are doing.
15.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 16:33:07
From what I saw the other day, Vivell wants Kone, but Wilcox isn't convinced, and Carrick would prefer someone from the prem.
Could be a load of rubbish, of course.
16.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 16:58:46
I wonder if there is an element of the market changing quite dramatically in terms of transfer fees with the signings made by City, Chelsea and Tottenham. I suspect there were targets at fees the club were prepared to go to, but with Fernandez, Tonali, Anderson and Rogers going for hefty fees, that has set the benchmark for other clubs now, and potentially United have had to rethink their approach and their targets.
17.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 17:29:25
It's 2 weeks, boys, not 3. We are careering towards the start of the season.
18.) 07 Aug 2026
07 Aug 2026 18:00:13
AJH,
If the window closed today I'm not sure there would be anybody happy.
But we can live in hope.
I think there will be more. I hope there will be more, and I'll be hugely disappointed if not.
Imo we go into next season stronger than last if nobody else comes, but we will have lost ground on a couple of other teams if we don't.
Just remember, by this time last year, we had only signed Cunha and Mbeumo. Sesko Lammens came after 10th Aug.