Manchester United Transfer Rumours

27 Aug 2026 12:37:44
Seemingly we are in talks with Fiorentina after they submitted an official bid for Zirkzee.

They want a loan, and have offered a loan fee of €5m. They also want a buy clause and negotiations are underway for this.



Suspect this may well get done as best for all parties. Could well open a space for a replacement. Wonder if there are any surprises behind the scenes. Hope so.

27 Aug 2026 13:26:00
A guaranteed loan to buy is needed, then it will be classed as a sale under SCR.

27 Aug 2026 13:41:00
Italian clubs drive me mad.... It's always a bloody loan.

27 Aug 2026 14:48:28
Hope they have a striker lined up. Going into the season with just Sesko is mad. Especially as he seems to pick up injuries quite a bit.

I know others can play there, but it's not their natural position, and it shows when they play there.

The team and squad need another option for out and out striker.

27 Aug 2026 16:15:43
Watkins/Mateta.

27 Aug 2026 16:32:24
Cunha/Mateta.

27 Aug 2026 17:29:00
Watkins off to Saudi. It's road Mateta, most likely too expensive and honestly not good enough. Ivan Toney maybe.

27 Aug 2026 18:07:55
Ivan Toney won't come back because tax implications. Mateta would be best we can hope for.

27 Aug 2026 19:37:29
I've no objection to Zirkzee moving, and I'm delighted it frees up space to get a cf in to help Sesko and challenge him for a starting spot.
I've not seen us really linked with anybody all summer with any credibility to it.


Whomever it is can't do any worse than Zirkzee, it's hard to know what profile they will go for.
I've no idea at all who they will target.

27 Aug 2026 22:08:47
Hasn't Tony earned enough? If he comes back to the Premier League, it would help him in terms of his England place. Watkins has probably harmed his own chances by going.

I would welcome a motivated Tony.

28 Aug 2026 10:21:38
I love the idea that there is a queue of clubs fighting over signing Zirkzee. What an underwhelming player he's been. I don't even know what position to tag him with.

28 Aug 2026 10:52:20
Mateta looks like the most likely, and he wants out of Palace, and would be a good second option to Sesko. Seems to be some noise around the lad at Freiburg, but don't know anything about him.



However, the way we have moved this summer, it could be we are working on someone that is not being discussed, so we will have to see going into the window close.

28 Aug 2026 10:41:08
It's a tricky one, in an ideal world we'd sign a more experienced striker to rotate/challenge Sesko up front.

The problem is that it's pretty slim pickings.

Oli Watkins would probably have been the best option, but is going to Saudi for a large fee.

Ivan Toney could be an interesting option, but much like Henderson he would be forced to pay a large tax bill on his return to the UK. I believe Henderson spent a season with Ajax in the Netherlands to avoid that. Even if we could get him for a reasonable price, his wages would be excessive, especially for the role we need.

Jean-Phillpe Mateta on paper looks like a sensible choice, EPL proven, in his final year and Palace would accept a reasonable fee for him. However, his move to AC Milan broke down due to concerns that came up in his medical. Given that we pulled the plug in the Ederson deal for similar reasons, I wonder whether he is someone the club would seriously look at.

Viktor Osimhen is probably the premier option, but will cost a fortune both in fee and wages, has had injury concerns in the past, and would demand to be first choice. Which would limit Sesko's game time.

A name we haven't been linked with but who I personally think could be a good option is Marcus Thuram from Inter Milan. Strong, and quick, I don't think he'd have a issue adapting to the EPL. Has a history of also playing out wide, and can be a centre forward who creates for his teammates. At 29, is a great age to come in and challenge Sesko for a few years, but isn't necessarily going to expect to be first choice (more accepting of fighting for his place, as he has at Inter). Inter have also just brought back Pio Esposito who will push Thuram for a starting spot.

However, as we can see if we are looking for a striker who is 26-30 years old, the options are pretty slim, and certainly not ideal.

I wonder if the club might look at signing a younger, hungry, up and coming player to push/compete with Sesko. Someone who hasn't yet quite had a breakout season, and as such could be available for a reasonable fee. The kind of player who if he doesn't quite make it to the level we need that we could sell them in a couple of years for a similar fee or even a profit.

Some options could be:

Samu Aghehowa maybe from Porto (although I doubt he'd be cheap enough), Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille, Igor Matanovic from Freiberg, Marc Guiu from Chelsea, or Nicolo Tresoldi from Club Brugge.

I wonder if the club might go down that route to replace Zirkzee.

28 Aug 2026 13:12:34
Am I alone in being absolutely mystified, along with being massively annoyed, at how terrible, and I do mean utterly incompetent and terrible, Man Utd are at player sales.

Delap gets sold by Chelsea for £50m despite being utterly s**** and scoring only two goals all season, including only one in the league in 28 games, and yet we are selling for half that amount for Zirkzee who is absolutely proven in Italy and scored twice as many league goals in 4 fewer games. And yet again, a bloody loan. Unbelievably s*** negotiators and terrible comms to agents, media, and rumour mills. We are absolutely atrocious at sales, the worst selling club across Europe by a country mile. Ineos have done a good, not great but good job of resetting the expectations of selling clubs, but wow, when it comes to getting rid of the players we don't want, we are useless.

Rijjnders was a crap purchase by City and yet they get £55m for him, Newcastle just blapped £55m on Njco Gonzales who has done nothing whilst at City and yet leaves for a £5m profit. Nicolas Jackson gets sold for £65m despite bombing in the Premier League and being out on three loans. What the hell is wrong with these people? And don't even start with wages because Zirkzee is on peanuts compared to Delap, Jackson or Gonzales — 50k less than Delap, same money as Gonzales and 25k less than Jackson. We cannot keep selling assets so badly just because we don't want to keep them. It doesn't cause issues for anyone else, so why do we accept this inept approach to sales?

28 Aug 2026 14:05:50
Either way we need a striker and left back as minimum.

28 Aug 2026 18:32:39
The Delap one I would give a little bit of a pass on. The only reason he was so cheap last summer was due to a clause in his contract, otherwise he'd have been a 50m player last summer.



He's young, homegrown, and English to boot. I can see why he went for how much he did this summer. He's certainly worth more than what Chelsea paid for him, even with his poor season last time out.

28 Aug 2026 23:28:36
But what do you put the rest of it down to, Shappy? It's just farcical how we don't get good value, and to be fair it goes back to Fergie's days. Madrid couldn't believe how cheap we were, happy to sell Beckham for.

Stam was sold for peanuts, so were Ince and Hughes, and also van Nistelrooy. We just seek to cause our own headaches when players become unwanted.

30 Aug 2026 11:06:53
Captain, from our perspective we tend to buy players on the way up or at their peak. Which tends to mean we spend large fees and we pay big wages.

Whereas, we typically sell players when they are on the way down, or when they've fallen out with the club/manager.

Buying and selling football players is heavily impacted by perspective and opinion. While they also have factor in the total cost and the potential reward/value of the deal.

Signing a player who is potentially on a downward trajectory, and will cost a lot in terms of wages is a bigger risk, to offset that risk you can't be paying big transfer fees as well.

As a club we have also had a tendency (more so over the last decade) of holding on to players for too long hoping they will come good. One of the things I really liked about Omar Barrada when he was first linked to the CEO role was one of his quotes from his time at City. Where he basically says that new signings should be given no more than two seasons to prove themselves. One year to settle, but if you aren't doing what the club want/expect in your second season then it's time for the club to move you on before you lose too much value; while also opening up space in the squad for the club to bring in a new player who will offer more on the pitch.

Clubs like Chelsea are an anomaly compared to other clubs of a similar size. They have a transfer model that includes buying up a lot of high potential young players, keeping some at the club who could provide value that season and loaning out the others to continue their development. They also tend to sign these players at the 10-30m price bracket. Then the ones that fill a need at the club are kept, and the others are sold. It's a fairly unique strategy, which so far has had mixed success in terms of money made, and even less success on the pitch.

If you look at the majority of the players we have sold, we have sold them because we wanted them gone. Whether that is Ince, Beckham or Stam who had all rubbed up Sir Alex the wrong way, or RvN who the club felt was likely to start to decline and he had fallen out with Ronaldo.

Speaking of which, we didn't want to sell Ronaldo and he went for 80m. Which proves the point.

All that said, I'm not entirely sure that all of the deals we are seeing currently are 100% genuine. I feel like there are some shady under the table agreements in place to help clubs manipulate their club finances to circumvent all the new FFP type rules.

I think their was some questions raised when Newcastle sold Elliott Anderson to Nottingham Forest for what seemed like an inflated fee at the time given his age and experience, while Newcastle also paid a similarly high fee for Vlachodimos as a back up keeper. I think the idea was that Anderson's high fee would count entirely as profit, while the fee paid for Vlachodimos would be spread over several years. Or something like that anyway.

So there does seem to be some odd business happening, and some questionable fees being paid.

That said there is also an element of the EPL clubs becoming much wealthier than most European clubs, and as such the EPL market is becoming inflated. Clubs from the continent are charging more because they know EPL clubs have more money, which increases the risk of signing non-EPL proven players, leading to clubs preferring to make key signings from within the EPL, but of course those players fees are increasing because those EPL clubs have less need to sell than their European counterparts.

25 Aug 2026 19:13:07
Spoke to someone today connected to the club.

LB is the next focus
Hall is totally off.
Balde pushing for Utd
Utd don't want to deal with Barca, only interested in a dry loan.
Kadioglu is an option and interest is long term (as per Supa and Ed002) there is a feeling he hasn't done enough at Brighton.
Salinas is liked but wants Barca. Barcelona want to move on Balde.
Joaquin Seys is one to potentially watch.
Mateta is an option.
Zirkzee/Watkins swap an option. Saudi is a problem.

25 Aug 2026 22:00:16.
Sets feels like the deal for me from that list.

Interesting that there is no mention of Raum.

We absolutely need a striker, and we'd be delighted with a Watkins/Zirkzee swap.

25 Aug 2026 22:51:12
Had a great chat. Nothing there not out there already, to an extent.

He seems to think Kadioglu has legs. Zirkzee/Watkins swap is really wanted.

They’re not in the commercial side of things, so don’t know lots. Lovely bloke though.

We talk more about youth players.

They did say that there are concerns around conditioning. MC is very demanding, but allows specialist departments to work against a brief. It is those delivering who perhaps don’t have that elite experience and latest knowledge.

26 Aug 2026 06:10:59
Ferdi signing makes sense. We need someone who can slot in right away to compete with Shaw, not another project. It may be they see Shaw at centre back instead?

And, frankly, we already have an attack minded left sided defender in Dorgu already, so buying Balde clashes with that.

26 Aug 2026 09:21:27
Zirkzee/Watkins swap would be a great bit of business. Add a decent LB, and we have had a solid window.

26 Aug 2026 19:05:42
Lol. Solid business. 2 players from Villa that they don't want, and one from Chelsea that could not make the team and is only 22 years old. That's solid business. Yes, if you wanna finish mid table, how on earth have United standards slipped this low.

27 Aug 2026 13:44:37
Definitely want a player with legs.

27 Aug 2026 23:46:04
Well Watkins is going Saudi and balde wants Barca stay

24 Aug 2026 17:48:22
Ferdi Kadioglu Full back of Brighton rumour suddenly emerging, missed yesterday's game with a "minor injury".

24 Aug 2026 19:23:41
They just signed a new lb today, as well, supa.
The lad you speak of was their player of the season last year, and we were linked with him at that time also.
I'd take him over Hall all day long if he was an option.


Can't see Brighton letting him go on the cheap, they paid 25. For him I'm sure that they would look to double that. Imo that would be a super signing. Probably a lot of 2 plus 2 = 40 and little truth in it, but we can hope.

24 Aug 2026 20:14:51
TW

Thanks. Interesting, not a name I was familiar with. He is nearly 27 though.

24 Aug 2026 20:15:13
There is a cut and paste i posted to the banter page from Ed002 in July 2024 ref: Kadioglu when we and others were 1st linked to him.
I think rumour today is £40 million deal whichever way it is totalled.

25 Aug 2026 05:29:48
Yeah, just entering his prime. Red Man, good player. Not sure if there is any truth in it.

25 Aug 2026 07:14:38
Surely we are not suggesting 27 is too old now!
Long as got some pace, who cares how old he is. This team is just far too slow atm... Need an injection of pace all over the field, hopefully a bit of talent too would be nice.

25 Aug 2026 13:50:48
Given the lack of experience in our defensive line, it might actually be sensible to sign a more experienced player at LB if possible.

25 Aug 2026 18:36:26
Good player, a solid but not spectacular option. He is the sort of signing that will definitely make you better. However, I am not sure how much that costs nowadays.

25 Aug 2026 19:09:05
He'd be a great option. I didn't think he was obtainable this year, but I'd hoped we'd get him when he went to Brighton. He was fantastic last season.

24 Aug 2026 16:29:18
We were linked with the lad at Brugge, Nicolo Tresoldi a few weeks ago. Anyone know if we are still looking at this deal?

Just had a look online and there are a few bits, I did see Barce are considering him. 62 games, 27 goals, 9 assists. Directly involved in a goal every 102 minutes.

25 Aug 2026 22:58:37
Looks a player.
While he's German in Belgium, there is an excellent crop of Belgian youngsters and talent coming through their league.

De Cata. Mokiko, Godfs, Sabbe, Seys, Ordonez, Smets, de Vlieger, Lammens, Penders, Tzollis.

21 Aug 2026 21:07:14
We've had a 'here we go' from you know who, for Baleba.

Delighted if true. No detail as to terms yet, but expected to be a total package of approx £70m. If we can get the player of 2 seasons ago it should prove to be a bargain.

21 Aug 2026 21:34:20
65+5 and a sell-on clause, I read.

21 Aug 2026 21:39:52
I do feel that he had his head turned last season. I agree with you that he will return to the player he was 2 years ago.

Next summer, the focus will be on sorting the defence out. Utd may sign another defender before the transfer window closes, with the lb position the likely area that the club will strengthen.



Ultimately, had Utd sold Rashford, Onana and Ugarte, then I would have expected a further 3 signings on top of the current and provisional Baleba signing.

Perhaps we could see a loan with an obligation to buy for Mount go through. Even if he was fit, he would be well down the pecking order.

22 Aug 2026 08:25:46
He's been a highly rated player for several years, even before his move to Brighton. Last season is the odd one out in his career, and, to be fair, there were a lot of mitigating circumstances. Firstly, he was under more scrutiny than previously after a breakout year, which also means teams are better prepared for him. He also picked up an injury that kept him out for the whole pre-season, and he was rushed back.

The failed move probably affected him, and it may have affected his teammates. You then have the AFCON halfway through the season. All of those things make it very hard for a young player to get any sort of consistency across the season.

Baleba actually played well at the AFCON, and started to get back into form during the run in at the end of the season.

22 Aug 2026 11:28:03
Agree with the general consensus - he was incredible a few seasons back, possibly one of the best in the league. Extremely average last season bar a few games (co-incidentally, one might assume...) towards the end of the season. Seems overpriced based on the current player, but potentially a great deal if he can recover his best form.


Strange, it had to wait until a few days before the season started, considering we appear to be the only club with any interest. This club does things in such a cack-handed manner.

22 Aug 2026 16:10:30
After that performance, he may be having 2nd thoughts.

20 Aug 2026 17:26:19
Few rumours knocking about that we are interested in the Barcelona left back Alejandro Balde.

20 Aug 2026 20:10:38
He had played 168 games for them, but I don't remember him at all. I'm not a big Barcelona fan, but I don't recall him. That may be a good thing!
He is a Mendes client, so Mendes will offer him around to the highest bidder.

20 Aug 2026 21:57:56
Loan with an option to buy that we have zero intention of using, plus Barca subsidises a portion of his wages.

Like most clubs do to us.

20 Aug 2026 23:38:30
I think he's being offered on loan. He wants to stay, and Barca would be happy to let him leave. From the little I've seen, he looks defensively suspect.

21 Aug 2026 08:18:45
Not the LB I'd go for, but if he's the club's choice then I'd be happy to see how he pans out.

21 Aug 2026 10:41:08
Not good enough for a Barca team in an easier league. Not good enough for us. Positionally suspect.

21 Aug 2026 14:31:48
He doesn't want to leave Barca. From what I remember he's almost as injury prone as shaw. I'd stay well clear.

19 Aug 2026 19:38:34
Just seen a post on X saying that the cameras started rolling for the Amazon series at United this morning. Same day that the we get some transfer news.

Wouldn't put it past them.

20 Aug 2026 06:09:11
And why not, they're paying for it!

20 Aug 2026 09:00:56
Filming started over a week ago, as I mentioned in a post, jokingly suggesting that the club will now bring players in.

20 Aug 2026 20:11:11
Always ahead of the game, Fizz. ?

20 Aug 2026 22:15:03
If I went to Tenerife, Fizz would go to Elevenerife. ?

21 Aug 2026 08:26:45
Ken, it's tough being so ITK. ?
Peter, probably. ?

19 Aug 2026 18:34:38
It looks like Baleba is going to be on his way soon, which will complete the midfield overhaul in just one window.

Going from a midfield selection of:

Casemiro, Mainoo, Ugarte, and Mount last season.

To:

Baleba, Tielemans, Santos, Mainoo, Ugarte and Mount this season.

That's a massive upgrade and with the ages of Santos, Baleba and Mainoo (21/22) that is a rebuild that should last for the next 5-10 years.

This is on the back of the rebuild in attack that we undertook last summer, signing Mbeumo, Cunha, and Sesko to add to the existing Amad, Bruno, Dorgu and Zirkzee.

It seems that each summer we are trying to focus the rebuild on one main part of the team.

Which means next summer will likely be a big focus on defence. Hopefully we sign a LB this summer, and Yoro and Heaven develop nicely this season.

But with both Martinez and Maguire out of contract next summer I would expect us to sign a couple of CB's and probably look to upgrade RB. With maybe another forward being signed as a fourth signing depending on how some of our younger forwards are developing.

While people can complain about the timings of transfers, it looks like the club have actually made serious steps forward last summer and this summer in the transfer market to rebuild this squad.

Personally, I really like the signings we are making under the INEOS regime. We look and act like a proper, professional club again. A club with a plan and a direction. I don't expect every transfer to work out, but if we can get 80% of them right then we will be back challenging again within a couple of years.

19 Aug 2026 23:36:08
You will please some of the people some of the time, shappy, but you won't please all the people all the time.
I also think we will sign a left back this window, and if space is created up top by a departure, a dedicated No 9 to support Sesko.
People are forgetting, I think, that Yoro and Heaven are 20 and 19 and high on the list of all time EPL teenage CBs. Yoro today v the scrawny kid of even 12 months ago are night and day. His physique has developed, and I think Heaven will be a monster in 12 months' time. I like the idea of de Ligt, Maguire and Martinez being the snr pros, allowing Carrick to bring the young guys in and out to look after their development.
With so many games, I can see 2 pairings rotating and dovetailing when required.


Same in midfield.
What fleet have done well is try to address it in a planned fashion with a pretty clear strategy, as you've outlined.
Some will never agree with the strategy no matter what it is.
Fans have put themselves in a really difficult position where they want the management to be hated and want them to fail because they oppose 90% of their decisions and ignore the 10% they do agree with.
But as fans, they do want the team to do well.
But because of the former, they will jump on any period of poor results because they want to blame the management. All reasonable rationale and any positivity is off the menu.
I can't imagine being in a position to want the team to win but have club management fail.

20 Aug 2026 11:38:25
Ken, I think some people have dug themselves into a position where they can't back out without having egg on their face. So, instead of moving on, they double down on that position, ignoring any and all evidence to the contrary.

I dislike the Glazers for the position they have put our club in, and I can see both the positives and the negatives from INEOS from their short stint so far. But, ultimately, I want the team to be successful, even if that means bigger dividends for the Glazers.

What I'm most impressed/happy with in this new ownership model is that we have made a lot of intelligent, data-driven, and just plain common-sense decisions around restructuring the club.



Woodward fell into the trap of believing his own hype, CEO of the "biggest club in the world". He was all about optics and how he and the club looked, rather than how we performed.

Whereas now, we have hired experts into key positions, we have a plan and contingencies, and we don't get distracted by fancy big names because signing them would look good.

We can see that the club have a clear profile of the kind of players they want to sign, a clear plan on how to address the squad overhaul, and they have committed to that plan and are seeing it through, not ripping it up and starting again at the first hurdle.

20 Aug 2026 12:25:58
We have people who claim to be fans but they are nothing short of anti-fans imo.

19 Aug 2026 10:52:51
Carlos Beleba fee agreed. 60 million.
I think that's a cracking buy.
Only 22 years old and he has been desperate to come to Man U since last season.
If we managed to get Lewis Hall from Newcastle I would say it's been a cracking transfer window for us.

19 Aug 2026 11:21:33
Where are you seeing that a deal has been agreed. Most reports suggest that they turned down a £60m +£5m bid, but that talks are ongoing.

19 Aug 2026 12:26:46
Redseven - wher edoes it say that the 60m plus 5m has been turned down?

19 Aug 2026 12:57:58
My first choice.

Think he will be an excellent signing and exactly what we need.

19 Aug 2026 14:45:02
Ornstein, who broke the story, said that the bid was below their valuation, and that talks were continuing.

By all accounts, it sounds like all of the parties involved want to make a deal happen, but from what I can see, no fee has been agreed yet.



Hopefully we can get this one wrapped up quickly. The sooner we can get him in and around the squad, the better.

19 Aug 2026 14:50:35
It doesn't matter, redseven. First bid usually is rejected, it's part of the process.

19 Aug 2026 18:19:50
It's good news. Seems a much better price and worth waiting for. Well done to those on the recruitment team.

19 Aug 2026 18:22:07
Carlos Baleba Close – Is a Left-Back Now All Manchester United Need?

Manchester United appear to be on the verge of completing what could be one of the most exciting deals of their summer, with Carlos Baleba close to joining from Brighton.

Sky Sports reports that United are close to a full agreement, with a five-year contract already prepared and the 22-year-old expected to travel to Manchester ahead of a medical once the final details between the clubs are concluded. The overall deal is expected to be worth in excess of £60m.

If United get this completed around that sort of figure, I think it represents excellent business.

Baleba is only 22, already has extensive Premier League experience and gives Michael Carrick something his midfield has been crying out for: power, athleticism, recovery speed and the ability to carry the ball through pressure.

Perhaps most encouragingly, this isn't a name United have suddenly turned to late in the window. Sky Sports says Baleba has remained one of the club's leading targets, with United having enquired about him as far back as the January window.

He would join Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, completely transforming the midfield options available to Carrick. Tielemans arrived for £35m and Santos for around £50m earlier this summer.

Suddenly United can choose from the likes of:

Baleba – Santos – Tielemans – Mainoo – Bruno – Mount

That is a completely different midfield group from the one United entered last season with.

£60m+ for Baleba? I Think That's Very Good Business

Transfer fees have become ridiculous, but context matters.

United aren't potentially paying £60m-plus for a player approaching 30 with little resale value. They're buying a 22-year-old Premier League midfielder who could conceivably occupy the position for the next seven or eight years.

Brighton's valuation of Baleba was being reported at more than £100m only last summer, when United were also interested but unwilling to go anywhere near that figure.

Getting him now for a figure potentially much closer to the £60m mark therefore looks particularly attractive.

There will obviously be some concern over the ankle ligament injury he suffered during pre-season, but Sky reports that the problem is not expected to keep him out for an extended period.

Assuming the medical presents no concerns, this feels like exactly the type of signing United should be making.

Young.

Premier League proven.

Huge physical upside.

Still capable of improving significantly.

And bought for the team rather than because he is the biggest name available.



So What Do United Need Now?

For me, the priorities have changed considerably.

A few weeks ago I would have said:

1. Defensive midfielder
2. Left-back
3. Striker
4. Possibly left wing

If Baleba signs, I think that becomes much simpler.

1. LEFT-BACK – THE FINAL MAJOR PIECE

This is now comfortably the biggest remaining weakness in the squad.

Patrick Dorgu looks increasingly dangerous playing higher up the pitch, while Luke Shaw is currently the only natural senior left-back.

Dalot and Mazraoui can fill in, but United are back in the Champions League and will be competing across four competitions. Building the season around Shaw remaining available every week would be an enormous gamble.

Sky Sports reported only days ago that United still need a left-back following pre-season, while Carrick has openly said he wants further additions before the window closes.

Lewis Hall

Hall remains my preferred option.

He is 21, English, Premier League proven and has the technical ability to play as a conventional overlapping full-back or step inside and help control midfield.

The problem is Newcastle.

United have already made an enquiry and Newcastle have told them Hall is not for sale.

That doesn't necessarily mean the conversation is finished – particularly this late in a transfer window – but United would almost certainly have to make Newcastle an offer sufficiently large to force them to reconsider.

If the price isn't completely ridiculous, he's the one I'd push hardest for.

Myles Lewis-Skelly

This has now become much more interesting.

The Guardian recently reported that Lewis-Skelly has been offered to United, with Arsenal potentially looking for around £45m.

United are understood to be considering the possibility.

At 19, his upside is enormous.

He can operate at left-back but also has the technical qualities to play in midfield, which gives Carrick another tactical option.

£45m for Lewis-Skelly versus potentially considerably more to persuade Newcastle to sell Hall is a genuinely interesting decision.

If Arsenal are really willing to sell to United, I'd be looking very closely at it.

Antonee Robinson

Robinson remains another credible option and has been monitored alongside Hall.

He would probably provide the most immediate certainty: proven Premier League quality, tremendous engine and excellent going forward.

The downside is simply age profile.

Robinson is approaching 29 whereas Hall is 21 and Lewis-Skelly only 19.

If United are going to spend £40m-plus, I'd prefer them to secure someone capable of owning the position for the next five-plus seasons.

David Raum

The Guardian has also named RB Leipzig's David Raum among the players United could assess.

At 28 he would again be more of an immediate solution than a long-term investment, but he's an experienced attacking left-back and could become relevant if Hall proves impossible and United decide Lewis-Skelly isn't the right profile.

My left-back order

1. Lewis Hall
2. Myles Lewis-Skelly
3. Antonee Robinson
4. David Raum

Hall remains my favourite, but at a reported £45m, Lewis-Skelly suddenly becomes very tempting.



Do We Actually Need Another Striker?

A few weeks ago I would have said yes.

Now?

I'm increasingly thinking no – at least not this summer.

And interestingly, that appears to be where United themselves are heading.

Sky Sports reported that, as things stand, another forward is unlikely, with Marcus Rashford's return providing Carrick with another solution up front.

Rashford has been fully reintegrated under Carrick and travelled with the squad for the final stages of pre-season.

That changes the calculation considerably.

United already have:

Benjamin Šeško
Joshua Zirkzee
Marcus Rashford
Matheus Cunha
Bryan Mbeumo

with several of those players capable of operating centrally.

Šeško should remain the first-choice No.9 and continue developing.

If Rashford genuinely buys into Carrick's project again, there is little point spending another £50m-£70m on a Watkins or Mateta simply to add another body.

Rashford can play through the middle when necessary, Cunha can operate centrally, Mbeumo can move inside and Zirkzee has shown encouraging signs during pre-season.

That is plenty of attacking variety.

Save the money.

Give Šeško the opportunity to become the striker United bought him to be.

Give Rashford a clean slate.

And reassess the position next summer if necessary.



Left Wing Can Wait Too

The same argument applies on the left.

Dorgu has looked increasingly interesting further forward and Carrick clearly sees attacking potential there.

Add a reintegrated Rashford and Cunha's ability to start from the left and suddenly United aren't desperate for another winger either.

That gives them:

LW: Rashford / Dorgu / Cunha
CF: Šeško / Rashford / Zirkzee / Cunha
RW: Mbeumo / Amad

That is a very healthy collection of attacking options.

Rather than buying another winger simply because one is available, I'd rather United wait until next summer and decide what they actually need after a full season under Carrick.



Just Get the Left-Back

If Baleba crosses the line, I'm genuinely struggling to remember a recent United transfer window that has felt this coherent.

United haven't simply accumulated names.

They appear to have identified weaknesses and attacked them.

Andrey Santos adds energy, mobility and enormous potential.

Youri Tielemans adds experience, passing quality and control.

Carlos Baleba would add power, ball-winning ability and athleticism.

Rashford's return potentially removes the need to spend heavily on another attacker.

Dorgu's development further forward provides another attacking option.

Which leaves one glaring hole:

Left-back.

Get Lewis Hall or Myles Lewis-Skelly through the door and, for me, you can shut the transfer window.

There will always be another player supporters want.

There will always be another exciting name linked.

But at some point you have to allow a coach to work with the squad you've assembled.

A final window of:

Andrey Santos ✅
Youri Tielemans ✅
Carlos Baleba ⏳
Lewis Hall / Myles Lewis-Skelly ❓
Marcus Rashford reintegrated ✅

would be an exceptional summer.

Then it's over to Michael Carrick.

For the first time in quite a while, United wouldn't simply have a good starting XI.

They'd have a squad that looks capable of competing properly across the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Get the left-back and let's go.

19 Aug 2026 19:28:51
I'd agree with a lot of that, Philip.
I'd rather Rashford and/or Zirkzee moved on and we get a dedicated no9 to share the load with Sesko.
But if both refuse to leave, then we can only hope they do better than before.
Hall is very good, imo. Lost his place to Dan Burn towards the end of last season, so not sure what happened there.
Lewis Skelly has said he wants to play in midfield, apparently.

So would he want to come as a lb?
There are other very good options, as you say, and others, so we will get one.
Hall is 1st choice by the look of it, so reassuring is the right approach, as long as they have an option lined up, it might be last-minute. Com, but most of us can live with that without throwing out toys out of the pram.

19 Aug 2026 22:26:33
Square pegs, square holes required.

If Baleba signs, and I hope he will, he's the best option we could have hoped for this window for the DM role and aid that last week.

We need more specialists now. Left back is imperative. Hall is the only one I've seen play, so can't comment on the suitability of Salinas or Seys.



I do think we need another specialty striker, but I can't see us doing it this summer unless we sign Vlahovic for free and one of Zirkzee or Rashford leave.

20 Aug 2026 06:13:10
Square pegs, square holes? But Hall was still playing in midfield when he left Chelsea 2 years ago.

20 Aug 2026 07:20:36
That's probably why he didn't make it at Chelsea as he was played out of position.

19 Aug 2026 09:57:49
Baleba deal close according to Ornstein.

19 Aug 2026 10:21:34
It can't be, the owners don't have a clue and we are skint with no money to spend!

19 Aug 2026 10:36:05
If we can get him for around the 60-70m mark, then I think in time that will look like a good deal.

He's a great young player, with a massive ceiling on his talent. He had a phenomenal year the season before last, but struggled a little last season due to missing pre-season with an injury and the disruption around a failed move to us, along with the AFCON halfway through the season. He struggled to get any momentum and consistency.

I know some people will be down about this potential deal, due to his less than stellar season last time out. But, young players have ups and downs as they develop, and it makes a lot more sense to buy after a dip than after a purple patch.

He's the profile we need, strong, physically dominant, quick across the ground, great in the air, press resistant, hard working, mobile, can carry well through the lines, and is an underrated passer of the ball.

He's also EPL proven, and is left-footed (which opens up different passing lanes through midfield).

A few fans have been complaining about the lack of movement in recent weeks, but maybe the club were just waiting Brighton out. Maybe they were waiting for potential challengers for his signature to move on to other targets to ensure we can't be dragged into a bidding war (which Brighton tried to do last summer and we walked away).

If we do get this deal across the line, then I think we can probably rule out big money moves for players like Lewis Hall and Myles Lewis-Skelly as I doubt we'll spend 60m+ on another two signings before the window closes. Interestingly, Baleba himself has covered lb on occasion.

However, I suspect that means that we will move for a cheaper lb such as David Raum, Jorge Salinas or Joaquin Seys.

19 Aug 2026 10:48:16
We absolutely needed a Baleba-type. A real ground-eater.

I maintain my stance that Tielemans and Mainoo absolutely cannot play together. So it's:

Santos/Baleba
Tielemans/Mainoo

The big question is, is anyone ready for Mainoo to be our fourth best central midfielder and have fairly limited game time? Because no matter how many won't like that, it's going to happen...

19 Aug 2026 10:53:17
If we do sign him and sign a very good left back (I would pay for Hall), then it's another decent window. Like it or not, Rashford looks to be staying, so can cover at CF.

19 Aug 2026 10:53:42
Interesting signing. Looked amazing a few years ago, then last season was a bit rubbish.

Which Baleba are we signing?

19 Aug 2026 10:54:40
If we get Seys or Salinas along with Baleba, then we've had a pretty decent window.

Another striker would've been good, but not essential.

19 Aug 2026 11:04:20
Confirmed on Sky.

19 Aug 2026 11:16:06
Great signing. Think he was injured most of last season.

19 Aug 2026 11:18:04
Over the moon if this goes through. Excellent signing, good age, profile, and decent fee.

19 Aug 2026 12:40:46
I like this deal if our recruitment team told him to be rubbish last season to get the price down. If he was just rubbish last season, it's pretty high risk.

It would be nice to have a left footer in Midfield. 24/25 Baleba and Santol in Midfield are very robust, and they complement each other.

Baleba likes driving forward with the ball, Santos passes forward, they are both monsters at getting the ball back and covering ground.

As long as we get the 24/25 version, good signing.