Manchester United rejected a deadline-day bid from Everton for striker Joshua Zirkzee. The club also ended their pursuit of left-back targets Alejandro Balde and Jorge Salinas, leaving the squad without a new specialist in that position.
Why did United block Zirkzee's move?
Everton made a late attempt to sign the Dutch forward on Tuesday. United officials decided against the move because they felt there was not enough time to find a suitable replacement before the 11pm BST deadline. Zirkzee has not played for Michael Carrick's side this season. Everton had also been working on a deal for United States forward Folarin Balogun from Monaco, which reportedly involved a fee around £40 million.
The Athletic's analysis noted that letting Zirkzee leave would have left United short of options at centre-forward. The 25-year-old had attracted loan interest from Serie A clubs earlier in the window, including Fiorentina. United currently sit 10th in the Premier League with three points from two matches, scoring five goals and conceding four.
What happened with the left-back search?
Manchester United will not be signing Barcelona's Alejandro Balde or Racing Santander's Jorge Salinas. The club made a deadline-day check on Balde but ended any pursuit of a loan deal. Talks were also held regarding Salinas, whose contract includes a €16 million release clause, but his club expects him to stay.
This leaves Luke Shaw as the only senior left-back in the squad. Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot can provide cover from the right-back position. Youngster Harry Amass, 19, is expected to feature for the Under-21s and provide backup. United's next challenge is an away match against 7th-placed Everton on September 6th, a game you can find on our fixtures page.
How did Fernandes perform against Ipswich?
Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick as Manchester United came from behind to beat Ipswich Town 5-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday. Marcus Rashford started his first Premier League game since December 2024, while Kobbie Mainoo impressed in midfield. The victory came after an opening weekend loss to Hull City.
Fernandes' three goals, one from the penalty spot, turned the game around after Leif Davis had put Ipswich ahead. A controversial own-goal involving Harry Maguire and a late strike from Bryan Mbeumo completed the scoring. This was the first time United had scored five in a Premier League game since August 2025. The win leaves them three points behind league leaders Manchester City.
What is the current squad situation?
The failure to sign a left-back will concern fans given Shaw's injury history. The England international started all 38 league games last season but has faced availability issues throughout his United career. The club had considered Newcastle's Lewis Hall as an ideal target, but the Magpies stood firm. You can view the full defensive options on our squad page.
With the transfer window closed, Carrick must work with his existing group. The team's early season form shows one win and one loss. Their goal difference stands at +1. The focus now shifts to preparing for the trip to Goodison Park, where they will face an Everton side that also sought attacking reinforcements.
