Harry Maguire did not need much prompting. Speaking to a small group of reporters at Carton House Hotel in County Kildare this week, where Manchester United held a short training camp designed to reset the group ahead of their final push for Champions League qualification, the defender made his position clear. This summer needed to be a big one. The club needed to recruit well.
Maguire, who has just signed a new one-year contract, was speaking with the confidence of a player who has watched positive signings transform the team’s fortunes this season. Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens have all contributed to United’s rise to third in the Premier League table under Michael Carrick, and the dressing room wants more of the same.
What Maguire may not have known is that the message was already received. Sources have told ESPN that internally, getting this summer’s recruitment right is considered even more important than deciding who becomes Ruben Amorim’s permanent successor. Having spent more than two years at the club, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team have concluded that transfer mistakes are harder to recover from than managerial ones. Several decisions made before they arrived are still being dealt with.
The sales that fund the signings
Before United can bring anyone in, they need to move people out. André Onana’s wages represent a significant obstacle, particularly if the club qualifies for the Champions League, which would trigger a salary increase and complicate efforts to find a buyer after his loan season at Trabzonspor. A resolution there is considered important to freeing up budget elsewhere.
Barcelona hold an option to make Marcus Rashford’s loan permanent for £26 million. Napoli are expected to trigger a similar clause for Rasmus Højlund at around £38 million. United also anticipate interest from Serie A for Joshua Zirkzee, whose technical qualities are seen as better suited to Italian football than the Premier League’s physical demands, and from Turkey for goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. Together, four or five departures could generate between £80 million and £90 million, which sources say represents the approximate budget for a central midfielder to replace Casemiro, who has already confirmed he will leave at the end of the season.
The midfield search
The list of candidates to replace Casemiro includes Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães of Newcastle, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. Each comes with complications. Anderson is also wanted by Manchester City. Tonali impressed Carrick when United faced Newcastle in March but carries the history of a lengthy gambling ban. Wharton is considered more of an attacking midfielder than the defensive anchor United need. Guimarães has privately indicated he does not intend to force an exit from Newcastle, and when United enquired about Baleba, Brighton quoted a fee exceeding £100 million.
Carrick has also recommended Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa, sources say, with the manager having worked with him previously at Middlesbrough. Villa are expected to demand a club record fee for the midfielder, who has contributed eight goals and five assists in the Premier League this season.
The club is also tracking João Gomes and Mateus Fernandes as potentially attainable options if Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham are relegated. United have held a dossier on Gomes dating back to his time at Flamengo.
Beyond the midfielder
A left winger is also a priority. Sources say recruitment staff have been briefed to find a profile similar to Amad Diallo but on the opposite flank. Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth had been in discussions with the club before the January window but wages became an issue after Manchester City entered the picture and his representatives’ expectations shifted significantly.
A second central midfielder is being considered alongside the primary target. Goalkeeper options are being assessed in case both Onana and Bayindir depart. Left back cover is also a concern given Tyrell Malacia’s expiring contract, questions over Luke Shaw’s availability for three games a week and the possibility that Patrick Dorgu may be better utilised further forward.
Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are well aware of what sources describe as the United tax, the premium clubs charge when they know the size of the buyer. The Mbeumo negotiation, which ended with United paying £65 million after initially resisting that figure, illustrated both the problem and the solution. Wilcox eventually convinced Berrada the fee was justified. The same approach is expected this summer.
Bruno Fernandes, sources indicate, is expected to stay, with Champions League football a significant factor in that decision. His contract expires next year.
