Manchester United will be in the market for a top-class central midfielder to replace the outgoing Casemiro in the summer, but previous experiences have shown the task they'll be faced with
Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City
Antoine Semenyo joined Manchester City after talks with United in December(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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Manchester United are preparing for a huge summer transfer window when they know they will face significant barriers in trying to land their top targets. A return to the Champions League will provide renewed pulling power, but their experience in trying to sign Antoine Semenyo in January demonstrated the challenge in getting deals over the line.
Semenyo ended up joining Manchester City from Bournemouth in a deal worth £62.5million in January. But there was plenty of competition for the winger in December, with United, Liverpool and Tottenham all vying for his signature.
United splashed over £200million in the summer to sign Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Senne Lammens and held talks with Semenyo's representatives in December. However, he ultimately chose to join Pep Guardiola's side and has flourished since, contributing eight goals and three assists in 18 games for City.
ESPN report that United got as far as speaking about wages with Semenyo's representatives before their chances of landing him faded. Once City had entered the picture it became clear that United could not compete on wages.
United sit third in the Premier League after taking 23 points from a possible 30 since Michael Carrick took over in January and are looking very likely to secure a place in next season's Champions League. That will provide a significant financial boost and allow United to compete with their rivals when it comes to wages for new players.
The club's brains trust, led by owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, are prioritising the signing of a top-class midfielder this summer and are interested in Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, Newcastle duo Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, Brighton's Carlos Baleba, West Ham's Mateus Fernandes and Wolves' Joao Gomes.
They are hoping to finance the signing through sales, with the departure of Marcus Rashford to Barcelona for £26m and Rasmus Hojlund to Napoli for £38m key parts of the jigsaw. Meanwhile, suitors are emerging for Joshua Zirkzee and Altay Bayindir, while Andre Onana is also on the transfer list.
Bryan Mbeumo during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Manchester United paid the 'United tax' when signing Bryan Mbeumo (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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However, they will need every penny they can get for fringe players, because the club are reportedly aware of the so-called 'United tax' being applied to their transfer dealings. While Semenyo's fee was fixed in the form of a release clause, United's dealings with Brentford to sign Mbeumo last summer demonstrated the issue.
Negotiations, which were led by Berrada, were dragged out because Brentford fought hard to get the best fee possible. Having been quoted £55m in January 2025, United were dismayed to find a fee of £70m plus £7m in add-ons being asked for by the Bees in the summer.
Such negotiating tactics are common and United will need to be canny in the market if they are to sign an elite midfielder, as well as strengthening in other areas. The team needs a left winger, while another left-back, central midfielder and, possibly, a goalkeeper if both Bayindir and Onana leave, are on the cards.
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