The Hard Tackle discusses three missed opportunities for Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
The summer transfer window is done and dusted, with clubs breaking records in the market again. Premier League clubs spent more than teams from the rest of the “top five” leagues combined. Manchester United completed three high-profile signings that have overhauled the offensive unit.
The decision-makers at Manchester United were under immense pressure to deliver the goods in the summer transfer window to transform a squad that finished 15th in the Premier League last season. They prioritised adding goals to the team after they managed only 44 strikes in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
So, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko arrived at Old Trafford within a few weeks of each other, with Manchester United forking out over €70 million for every player. After Sesko moved to the Premier League club, there was a lull for a few weeks, which featured an unsuccessful attempt to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The fourth and last signing of the summer transfer window finally arrived on deadline day, as Senne Lammens moved to Old Trafford earlier this week. The Belgian shot-stopper will be a much needed addition to the goalkeeping department, with Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir struggling between the sticks.
While Manchester United’s performance in the market for satisfactory, there were some missed opportunities. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle discusses three players the struggling Premier League giants should have signed in the summer transfer window.
Manchester United summer signings
Matheus Cunha (from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Bryan Mbeumo (from Brentford)
Benjamin Sesko (from RB Leipzig)
Senne Lammens (from Royal Antwerp)
Carlos Baleba
Carlos Baleba emerged in 2024–25 as one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders, with only two Brighton players accumulating more league minutes. His exceptional ball retention under pressure positioned him among the continent’s top young midfielders and demonstrated maturity in central areas that Manchester United has sorely lacked. Baleba’s left-footedness, physical intensity, and agility would have added a unique element, making him a rare and highly valuable addition in the transfer market.
Manchester United’s midfield this season revealed significant gaps, most notably in their ability to resist pressing and transition from defense to attack. While United have invested heavily in their forward line, the lack of a midfielder who can escape tight spaces, progress attacks, and duel physically has resulted in overreliance on older players and limited tactical fluidity. Baleba’s blend of resilience and athleticism would have allowed the team to break opposition lines, particularly useful given Amorim’s preferred back-three system that often restricts passing lanes through midfield.
The struggles of Manuel Ugarte since arriving from PSG further exposed the need for a robust central presence. Ugarte, seen as Amorim’s trusted lieutenant, has struggled to translate his pressing and ball-winning skills to the Premier League, admitting his form has fallen short and he’s had trouble adapting to the club’s intensity and demands. This inconsistency has forced United to either compromise on ball retention or adapt by using less-than-ideal combinations in the midfield pivot, most notably dropping Bruno Fernandes deeper to cover for deficiencies.
Compounding these issues is Casemiro’s advancing age. At 33, the Brazilian can no longer cover ground as he once did, and while his experience and leadership remain invaluable, United critically need younger, more mobile legs to secure midfield dominance. Baleba’s high-energy performances, combative dueling, and press resistance make him a tailor-made successor to Casemiro and an upgrade on current options—unlocking United’s forwards and strengthening defensive transitions at a crucial time.
Angelo Stiller
Over many years, United’s search for a midfield progressor has been unsuccessful, with the position persistently neglected by recruitment even as deficiencies became glaringly apparent. Angelo Stiller, currently shining at Stuttgart with a strong track record of tackling, progressive passing, and intelligent positioning, represents the profile United desperately need. His ability to dictate play, cover large distances, and keep his side ticking would have added a seamless link between defense and attack, something United have not consistently found since Michael Carrick’s retirement.
Under Ruben Amorim, United’s pivot system frequently places Bruno Fernandes in a deeper playmaker role, not out of tactical luxury but necessity—the club simply lacks anyone else with his range and vision. While Fernandes adapts well, this comes at the expense of his creative output higher up and regularly exposes the defense when he loses possession. Stiller’s progressive qualities in build-up and ball security under pressure would both enable Fernandes to return to his attacking role and ensure safer transitions.
For years, United’s choices in midfield have leaned toward destroyers or purely defensive options, but none have addressed the deeper problem of progressing the ball with precision, press resistance, and vision. This failing has led, time and again, to United struggling against organized opponents, often losing control of games and being overrun centrally. Bringing in Stiller would have modernized United’s engine room with youth, reliability, and a blend of European tactical education—a missing component in recent squads.
Stiller’s signing would also have supported Amorim’s vision of a more possession-oriented style, reducing the overreliance on direct transitions or hopeful balls forward. As the club attempts to compete at the elite level, having a midfield progressor like Stiller is not just a luxury but a basic requirement to control matches and unleash the team’s attacking stars.
Fermin Lopez
Fermin Lopez embodies exactly the high-upside, market opportunity signing United have often overlooked—the 22-year-old was available at a relatively “low” price (reportedly under €70m) given his potential and Barcelona’s financial position in the window. Lopez’s ability to deliver in big moments, seen in his eight goals and nine assists after injury last season, highlights his class, dynamism, and resilience.
Despite the arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who strengthen the attack, neither offers the creative, technical, and goal-scoring versatility from midfield or wide spaces that Lopez brings. The Brazilian and Cameroonian address direct scoring and width, but Lopez—an attacking midfielder or left-sided playmaker—would fill the vacuum for a creative midfielder who can break lines, combine in tight spaces, and add goals from deep.
This transfer window had the rare circumstance of a talented young player available for a fee well below market value due to Barcelona’s need to raise funds and Chelsea’s proactive pursuit. United missed the moment to take advantage of this opportunity, potentially allowing a key rival to get stronger while once again lacking proactivity themselves in the transfer market.
Signing Fermin Lopez would have expanded United’s options behind the striker, offering Amorim tactical flexibility to operate with two advanced midfielders or play a 3-4-2-1 with more goal threat from deep. Given Lopez’s creativity and age profile, he represented a long-term solution with potential resale value—qualities increasingly prioritized for elite clubs in the financial realities of modern football.