Overview

• United ended the summer without a new central midfielder after enquiries, choosing to rely on Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo.
• Interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba remains active, with reports of personal terms agreed, but a £100m‑plus valuation halted a 2025 move, and talk of a record 2026 deal is reported but unconfirmed.
• Midfield is set to be the priority for the next windows, with Adam Wharton, Ederson and Morten Hjulmand among monitored options whose combined valuations have been reported at about £222m.
• United’s summer outlay focused on attack and goalkeeping, bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens under INEOS oversight and Financial Fair Play constraints.
• Academy pathway forms part of near‑term cover, including £1m signing Sekou Kone, who has trained with the first team and is recovering from a recent head injury, as 2026 contract calls on Harry Maguire and Casemiro near decision points.