Manchester United have implemented a cautious 'building blocks' transfer strategy this summer, aiming to correct past recruitment errors while gradually improving the squad. The club's leadership, including CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, focused on securing players with a strong desire to join and Premier League experience, rather than chasing every available target. ESPN Soccer first reported the story.
This approach comes as United sit 10th in the Premier League table with 3 points from their opening two games, a record of one win and one loss. They have scored 5 goals and conceded 4, leaving them 3 points behind early leaders Manchester City. The club's next test is a home fixture against Brentford on November 28th, a match you can find on our fixtures page.
What was United's transfer strategy this summer?
The primary aim was to move the squad forward without repeating the expensive mistakes of previous windows. Omar Berrada acknowledged this need for prudence, stating, "a degree of caution is necessary given what's happened before." The midfield was the clear priority after the forward line was addressed last year. United invested a total of £155 million to bring in three midfielders with Premier League experience: Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba.
United triggered Tielemans' £35 million release clause and negotiated Brighton's initial £120 million valuation for Baleba down to £70 million. The club showed significant restraint elsewhere, walking away from a potential £85 million deal for Mateus Fernandes due to a lack of clear interest from the player and considering Sandro Tonali too risky because of his past betting ban.
Which major deals did Manchester United avoid?
The club demonstrated discipline by passing on several high-profile opportunities. They were only interested in Elliot Anderson at an initial £70 million valuation before he joined Manchester City. A deal for Atalanta's Éderson collapsed due to medical issues, leading United to sign Andrey Santos instead. The club also monitored Mamadou Sangare, whose statistics were comparable to Fernandes, but he moved to Brentford for around £40 million.
One of the most notable near-misses involved Manuel Ugarte. United had been tracking the midfielder, who was available for a potential £20 million bid in the 2024 window. However, a serious knee injury he suffered at the World Cup ended any transfer hopes. Jason Wilcox noted that "the best they could hope for was to arrange a loan with a club willing to cover Ugarte's salary." Ugarte remains under contract until June 2029 but is currently sidelined alongside new signing Carlos Baleba and Amad Diallo, as listed on our injuries page.
How does United's activity compare to rivals?
Manchester United's summer spending was measured against a backdrop of huge revenue generation by their rivals. The club brought in less than £50 million in transfer revenue. In stark contrast, Manchester City raised close to £350 million from player sales this summer. The combined fees for players like Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Enzo Fernández, who all moved to other Premier League clubs, totaled £341 million.
United also explored but did not complete moves for forwards. They showed interest in a potential sale of Marcus Rashford to Barcelona and considered a deal for Joshua Zirkzee. The strategy consistently prioritized players who explicitly wanted to play for the club, a criterion successfully met by last summer's signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
What areas remain a concern for United?
Despite the midfield overhaul, the club failed to address a clear weakness at left-back before the transfer window closed. They considered a move for RB Leipzig's David Raum but viewed a potential £30 million, four- or five-year contract as potentially disruptive to the squad's wage structure. Lewis Hall is the primary target, but Newcastle United are refusing to negotiate. United were also offered Rayan Aït-Nouri but withdrew interest due to demands for a permanent obligation to buy.
The defense has been earmarked as the priority for next summer. The club's leadership were happy with their business from the previous window, which brought in Cunha, Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and Senne Lammens. The current league standings show the team has room for improvement as they build towards future windows. This long-term 'building blocks' approach is designed to position the squad for strategic future signings rather than attempting to win a single transfer period. United's next match is at Old Trafford against Brentford on November 28, 2026.
