Manchester United ended the season in third in 2025/26, with the team coming into great form following Michael Carrick’s appointment as interim manager. Carrick has since been given the job permanently, and with players leaving and the club back in the Champions League, there’s work to be done in the transfer market.

Departures Forcing Arrivals

Sometimes players leave a football club without needing to be replaced. However, with Manchester United already needing to overhaul their central midfield department this summer, Casemiro’s exit and Manuel Ugarte’s long-term injury have made arrivals in this area a priority.

United looked to have got a deal for Atalanta’s Ederson over the line earlier this summer, but the club walked away from the move following medical checks. Instead, they signed Ederson’s compatriot Andrey Santos from Chelsea for around £48 million. This move was followed by Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans arriving for £35 million after United triggered his release clause.

If United are to compete on multiple fronts this term, as the latest sports betting online suggests they will, there’s a need for more than two arrivals. It’s why Carlos Baleba, a long-term United target, is expected to join from Brighton imminently. This should complete the central midfield department, with Santos, Tielemans and Baleba joining Kobbie Mainoo.

A Familiar Face In Attack

Adding another forward, following the recruitment of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko last summer, also appeared to be a priority for Carrick and United. But with the club being smarter with their spending, it appears as though they’re happy with a familiar face returning to the club for now.

Marcus Rashford’s career at Old Trafford appeared to be over following a loan move to Barcelona, with the Catalan giants holding the option to buy him for just €40 million. However, after Hansi Flick’s side opted to sign Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon instead this summer, Rashford is back at the club. The 28-year-old, who can play wide and through the middle, has been handed the number 9 shirt and is expected to stay put, at least for now. This removes the need to add to the forward line, meaning money can be spent elsewhere before the transfer window slams shut.

Adding The Final Pieces

It’s clear, especially following United’s shock opening day defeat at the hands of newly promoted Hull City, that there’s still work that needs to be done in the transfer market if United are to hit the heights expected of them this season. For example, due to the increased number of fixtures they will play, a new left-back is required to reduce the burden on Luke Shaw.

United struggled defensively against Hull, conceding twice from set pieces. While Carrick can call on the likes of Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Ayden Heaven, with Matthijs de Ligt still out injured, question marks around the likes of Yoro mean bringing in a top-level central defender may need to happen sooner rather than later.

Conclusion

Manchester United haven’t splashed the cash as they have done in previous transfer windows, but maybe that’s a good thing after wasting millions on players who have failed to make the grade. Their approach this summer has been smarter and more methodical, and it’s a case of so far, so good, with more arrivals expected in the coming days.