Manchester United will be hoping to get several deals done before the summer transfer window closes on September 1 with sales vitally important at Old Trafford
Isaac is a senior NCTJ-trained journalist with an MA in News Journalism. He has experience of working for national and regional news organisations including the Express, the Mirror and the Manchester Evening News. He currently covers sport across all national and regional sites at Reach PLC.
Carlos Baleba would be a dream signing for Manchester United before the summer transfer window closes on September 1 (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Manchester United have just a week left to strengthen their squad before the summer transfer window closes at 7pm on Monday, September 1.
It may be early days in the 2025/26 campaign, but all evidence so far suggests that the Reds still have plenty of work to do. That will surprise few after such a disastrous campaign last term, and yet the scale of United’s rebuild often causes astonishment.
The key areas that need filling are goalkeeper and a new central midfielder, with both positions exposed in the two Premier League matches Ruben Amorim‘s side have played so far. Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana have both struggled over the last year or so, and there will be hope that Senne Lammens can step up if his move from Royal Antwerp is completed.
United need a reliable No.1 who can feature every week for Amorim’s team. It’s a position they have badly struggled with since David de Gea’s peak in ended in the early 2020s and there must be serious question marks over whether Lammens can step up to such a high-pressured role at just 23.
In terms of midfield – Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba would be the dream addition. Of course, his £100million plus price tag will make any deal extremely unlikely this summer.
But sales would boost United’s PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) position and raise the remote possibility that he could arrive at Old Trafford by next month. That would almost certainly have to rely on what happens to the club’s wantaway stars and Rasmus Hojlund, who has no place under Amorim after Benjamin Sesko’s arrival.
So far, only Marcus Rashford’s loan exit has taken place, and even though his wages will save United around £12m, it’s not enough. It has been claimed last week that talks are advancing over a deal that will see Alejandro Garnacho join Chelsea.
United are said to want £50m for their academy graduate – a fee which would represent a huge PSR boost. The player’s homegrown status would mean any sale would be pure profit – allowing the club more wriggle room to bring new players in.
Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia are the other three players who will be keen to facilitate a move away from M16 this summer. Clubs from Italy have been linked with Sancho, and a sale would be a welcome relief for everyone after his miserable time in Manchester since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
Antony, meanwhile, could be on his way back to Real Betis after a successful loan spell in La Liga last term. His move back to Spain is likely to represent a significant loss on the £82m United paid for him in 2022 and yet he has no future at Old Trafford.
As for Malacia, injuries and form have put an end to his time at United for some time. Fortunately for the Reds, they only paid a more modest £14.7m to sign him three years ago, but they will still make a loss on a player who has barely featured since his debut campaign at Old Trafford three seasons ago.
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