Man Utd will look to make progress with their summer transfer plans as the window officially reopened on Monday.
The summer transfer window has officially reopened after a brief break from the special window that was introduced ahead of the Club World Cup. It means we have two and a half months of drama on the horizon as clubs look to add to their squads before the 1 September deadline.
Manchester United have already secured their first summer signing after Matheus Cunha completed his move from Wolves last week. He joins on an initial five-year deal, with the option of another year, after United agreed to match his £62.5 million release clause, that they will pay across three separate summers.
Ruben Amorim still wants to add another attacking midfielder to his squad and has prioritised the addition of a striker as well. There is also an interest in a wing-back, central midfielder and a goalkeeper, though player sales will be required if they are able to address all the issues they would like to in the current window. Here is a look at the deals they could complete this week.
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Bryan Mbeumo
Manchester United are still favourites to sign Bryan Mbeumo despite serious interest from Tottenham Hotspur. They have been informed the forward would prefer a move to Old Trafford this summer and the appointment of Thomas Frank shouldn't change much given he was already expected to leave Brentford.
It will come down to the price. United have already seen an opening bid of £45 million + £10m in add-ons rejected, as Brentford hold out for a fee in the region of £60m. Tottenham might be able to offer more given their Champions League qualification but United are still expected to submit an improved bid, which could even be their final offer for the forward.
United don't want to waste time with protracted talks this summer, and if they can't find a quick agreement with Brentford, they could explore alternatives.
Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho should be the easiest player sale for Manchester United this summer given his enormous potential and the demand for his signature. Chelsea and Atletico Madrid have both expressed an interest in him, which could be complicated due to their involvement in the Club World Cup, while Napoli are another option.
It is understood the Argentine would prefer to stay in the Premier League, with Aston Villa and Arsenal both also linked with a move for the forward. United are in a position where they can demand a huge fee for him at the start of the window, and a team might match it to ensure they win the race, though United's hand will be weakened as the summer goes on and time begins to run out.
Antony
Real Betis are seriously interested in a move for Antony, though it is unclear whether they will be able to fund a permanent move this summer. It has been suggested the La Liga club could make another loan offer for the forward, with an option or obligation to make it a full transfer in a year.
It would be beneficial for United to get Antony off their books this summer, but they will likely prioritise a permanent exit before they consider whether to let him leave on loan instead. He still seems certain to leave though and if Betis could offer a transfer fee then it would be a simple deal to complete.
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford is another player certain to leave this summer, with Barcelona one of the clubs that have expressed an interest in his signature. They have just announced a pre-season tour to Asia next month and it would be a huge boost if they had some new signings to parade while they were there.
Rashford is not expected to rush a decision on his future this month, though if a serious offer from Barcelona were to arrive, then it would not be a surprise if things moved quickly. This will again hinge on the financial package, with United eager to negotiate a permanent exit rather than an initial loan departure.
A striker signs
Ruben Amorim has prioritised the addition of a striker this summer and the preference is to get one in as early as possible. It is understood the pursuit of a striker is likely to drag on, given it depends on player sales, but if one of the aforementioned forwards were to leave this week, then United might have the scope to complete a signing quickly.
Hugo Ekitike is the latest name to be linked with an Old Trafford move, but his huge price-tag is an issue. Viktor Gyokeres would favour a move to Arsenal and Victor Osimhen would need to lower his wage demands if he were to move to Manchester. It means a more affordable option such as Moise Kean or Goncalo Ramos could be the most likely.
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