Manchester United are looking to overhaul their squad in the summer transfer window and if everything goes according to plan, this could be their team
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Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring for Sporting in the Champions League
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring for Sporting in the Champions League
(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United are entering the 2025/26 season with a point to prove and the pressure firmly on the shoulders of their manager Ruben Amorim.
United's 2024/25 season ended with a whimper as they languished in the bottom half of the Premier League table and lost the Europa League final. Now, the pressure is on Amorim to spearhead a rebuild of this team and get them challenging at the right end of the table once more.
To do that, he will have to be proactive in the summer transfer window and with the market reopening on Monday, it is expected the Reds will be busy before the start of pre-season. Ahead of the second part of the summer, MEN Sport has asked Google's AI software Gemini to name United's dream starting XI for the Premier League next season.
According to the technology, United are realistically just two more transfers away from completing their dream scenario next season. Gemini included Matheus Cunha in the starting line-up following his £62.5m move from Wolverhampton Wanderers and he is placed alongside captain Bruno Fernandes in attacking midfield.
Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres is deemed to be the next high-profile transfer that United should be looking to make amid a whirlwind summer that he is having. Both the Reds and Arsenal are thought to be leading the way for the Swede with the Lisbon club reportedly under fire from Gyokeres for quoting his asking price at £68m.
It is believed that the former Coventry City man was under the impression that he would be offered out for £51m this summer, something Sporting deny. With that move complicated, Gemini suggests that United could look at Napoli's Victor Osimhen as an alternative.
His release clause is understood to be at a reasonable £63m with the striker having already rejected a move to Al Hilal this summer. The final new addition that AI believes United should make is in goal, with Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez named as the starting shot stopper.
The Argentine looked as though he bid farewell to the West Midlands following the final home game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur. He has been tight-lipped about his future since then and it is believed Villa would be looking for £40m if they were to allow their first-choice 'keeper to leave.
United have been credited with interest as they look at potential options to provide competition to Andre Onana. Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are also believed to be keen on Martinez.
Elsewhere, the dream starting line-up for United is made up of players who are already at the club. The only player who will not make the opening fixture for definite is Lisandro Martinez as he continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.
He should be back towards the end of this year. There is also a new role for Amad to make room for Cunha as he is picked by Gemini to start at right wing-back.
There is no place for Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo either, despite United prioritising his signature. Gemini acknowledged that Mbeumo is likely to join United but perhaps see him at this stage as a strong player to come off the bench.