Man Utd's CEO Omar Berrada sat down with club media to discuss the Reds' strategy for this summer's transfer window.
Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid.(Image: 2026 Icon Sport)
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Elliot Anderson seems to prefer a move to Manchester City, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has said Aurelien Tchouameni will stay at the Bernabeu, and Newcastle's financial position has been strengthened, which will make a deal for Sandro Tonali more difficult. That begs the question: will a marquee midfield signing come through the door at Manchester United this summer?
United have earmarked significant investment for a Casemiro replacement. The club planned for his exit, and for the signing of a talented successor, but the midfield market is looking increasingly difficult.
United have reached an agreement with Atalanta to sign Ederson for £35million, plus ££3.8m in add-ons, but he is seen as a signing to strengthen the squad, not someone who will immediately be a starter.
The Reds are interested in Mateus Fernandes at West Ham. At the start of the week, formal talks had not been opened between West Ham and United, but that may have changed now that a deal for Ederson has been agreed.
West Ham have put an £80m price tag on Fernandes' head, but that is wishful thinking for a relegated club.
United could spend around £100m on Ederson and Fernandes. There would still be enough cash available to sign a marquee midfielder, but Omar Berrada spoke about United being disciplined in an interview this week.
Berrada sat down with club media and discussed the club's transfer strategy, saying: “We have to be really disciplined, it’s simple. We have a plan, we know what we can invest, and we have to stick to that.
"In some cases, we may decide to make an investment knowing it’s the right thing for not just the next two or three years, but the next 10 years. But clearly, we need to stay very focused on what we’re trying to achieve. It’s very important that you don’t let the market or the agents dictate what we should be doing."
Berrada spoke about transfers.
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He added: “I think the template for what we did last summer will be replicated. You always go into a window, and you don’t know how you’re going to come out of it, but you have to be really prepared.
“You have to have a clear plan, you have to know exactly what positions you’re looking to strengthen, and you also have to be prepared for any eventuality. There could be exits we're not expecting, there could be opportunities in the market that perhaps weren’t there at the beginning of the window.
“So, we have to be ready, we have to be agile and flexible. But we have a clear plan. Jason Wilcox and his team are very well set up to execute that plan.
"I do think what we saw last season is a good way forward for us, which is we want a mix of experience and youth, we want a mix of players who have demonstrated they can perform in the Premier League and perhaps also players who are doing very well outside the Premier League.
“But we will always do it within our terms, ensuring that whatever decision we take is not just for the short term, but also for the long term."
The Manchester Evening News reported that United would attempt to replicate last summer's transfer business, with club chiefs targeting Premier League-proven signings, but Berrada's quotes on discipline were telling.
His comment about not allowing "the market or agents to dictate" felt like a message to any clubs United would look to contact regarding a marquee midfield signing. United want to sign that kind of player, but only on their terms.
Given the market's state, signing Tonali from Newcastle may be the best option. Forest want in excess of £100m for Anderson, and their chairman, Evangelos Marinakis, would love a bidding war between United and Manchester City.
United are not prepared to spend ridiculous money, nor are they prepared to get into a bidding war with City. And then there is Tchouameni, who is regarded as a dream signing by United, but is expected to stay at Madrid.
Tonali is Premier League-proven and would make an immediate impact in midfield. Newcastle have been boosted by the early sale of Anthony Gordon, but they will have to negotiate if Tonali wants to leave.
While Berrada warned that United must be disciplined in the market, a deal for Tonali would not have to break the bank. And would the Italian improve Michael Carrick's midfield? The answer is a resounding yes.