Joao Palhinha
Man United are reportedly planning to make a move for Joao Palhinha
Manchester United remain focused on strengthening their team this summer, with Ruben Amorim looking to rebuild his own squad.
So far, the Portuguese head coach has welcomed Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and The Manchester Evening News understands that United are currently pursuing Bryan Mbeumo, who has expressed a preference to move to Old Trafford.
Among the priorities is a striker and a midfielder which will be significant to kick on their 2025/26 season. United must make amends after their worst Premier League campaign since the 1973-74 season last term.
With the transfer window closing on September 1, United have plenty of time to finalise more signings. However, some departures are also expected.
Here, the Manchester Evening News has taken a look at the latest headlines from in and around Old Trafford.
Reds 'plan' to make move for midfielder
According to Caught Offside, Amorim’s side is planning to make a move for former Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, who worked with the Portuguese coach at Sporting Clube de Portugal.
It’s believed that Bayern Munich are open to letting Palhinha leave this summer, and his agent is reportedly exploring options to bring him back to the Premier League. The 29-year-old struggled for regular game time under Vincent Kompany last season.
MEN Sport says: Palhinha enjoyed great success under Amorim in Portugal, evolving into one of Europe’s most reliable midfielders - a rise that ultimately earned him a move to the Premier League. If the reports are accurate, his arrival at United would represent a major boost, offering much-needed stability in the middle of the park alongside Bruno Fernandes. Crucially, Palhinha’s understanding of Amorim’s system could prove vital in helping the team start the new campaign strongly.
Mason Mount move 'plotted'
Aston Villa are reportedly 'plotting' a move for midfielder Mason Mount. The 26-year-old, who joined United from Chelsea in the summer of 2023, featured 26 times across all competitions last season.
According to Football 365, Villa have stepped up their interest in Mount and are looking to make a move if he is allowed to leave Old Trafford in this transfer window. Meanwhile, former Reds scout Mick Brown believes Unai Emery’s side could be preparing a move.
"United have tried to establish whether there is a market for Mason Mount," he said on The Inside Track podcast. "Aston Villa have been spoken about and I think they could make a move. People remember Mason Mount at his best, that's what Villa want to help him get back to and it looks like he’s back to full fitness now.
"Villa want to strengthen because they’ve lost (Marcus) Rashford and (Marco) Asensio, so Mount is on their list. Unai Emery is a fan of his and feels he could help him to rediscover his Chelsea form. It would be an excellent move for Mount as well, because Villa are a top club, they’ve got top facilities and they’ll be playing in Europe."
MEN Sport says: Injuries have significantly disrupted Mount's time at United so far, limiting his ability to establish any real rhythm or consistency. While there were flashes of his quality and creative influence toward the end of last season, it's still unclear whether he can stay fit long enough to make a sustained impact.
His injury record remains a concern, and whether he can put those fitness issues behind him is one of the big uncertainties heading into the new campaign.
Marcus Rashford Barcelona update
Marcus Rashford has expressed his desire to one day play alongside Lamine Yamal, amid reported transfer interest from Barcelona.
In a video posted on the xBuyer YouTube channel, Rashford was asked: "Would you like to play with Lamine someday?" He responded: "Yeah, for sure. Everybody wants to play with the best, y'know, so hopefully, we’ll see."
So much so that Tot Costa of Catalunya Radio have suggested that Rashford’s representatives have renewed contact with Deco to reaffirm his interest in joining Barcelona and his willingness to remain patient throughout the transfer window.
The report also states that Barca are open to signing Rashford but only if the conditions are right.
MEN Sport says: Rashford has made his intention to join the Spanish giants clear, but it remains to be seen whether they can meet United's demands. Given their financial situation, reports claim that Barcelona are unwilling to pay £40 million for the England international.
While no other clubs have come forward for the winger yet, United may have to consider lowering the asking price to complete a sale if the situation doesn’t change. Offloading players this summer is just as important as bringing new ones in.
Get United transfer news and updates on WhatsApp!
Our team of Manchester United experts are on top of all the goings-on at Old Trafford for this week and beyond, and you can get the latest team news, injury updates, reaction and analysis along with inside information to your phone by joining our new free WhatsApp community. You can also join the 50,000 (and growing!) band of United fans who are following our WhatsApp Channel.
Sign up to our community here, and join our WhatsApp channel here.
--
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.