Manchester United are gearing up for a big 2026 summer transfer window
Manchester United are looking ahead to next season brimming with positivity after turning their 2025/26 campaign around, after Michael Carrick took over from Ruben Amorim in the new year and propelled the Red Devils back up the Premier League table, securing a third place finish and a return to the Champions League.
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Bagging a place back at UEFA’s top table will not only bring riches, but also the opportunity to make more high calibre signings. Last summer, United’s recruitment took a notably different approach, moving away from signing complete gambles like the disastrous Antony from Ajax, and instead investing in proven Premier League talent like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
We’re an impatient lot at 3AM Towers, and wanted to figure out exactly who United would sign in the upcoming window. So, we fired up the latest edition of Football Manager, and had the simulation predict every player heading to Old Trafford ahead of the 2026/27 season kicking off later this summer.
Man United’s summer signings predicted - Costa to Brandt
Diogo Costa - £50m from Porto: The Red Devils have been linked with the Portuguese shot-stopper for some time, and opted to upgrade on Senne Lammens by signing the 26-year-old in a landmark deal. The Swiss-born Portugal international made the move after seven seasons at his boyhood club, in which he won three league titles.
Amine Gouiri - £32m from Marseille: Off the back of a breakthrough World Cup tournament, United swooped to bring in the Algeria international. He’s capable of playing as a striker or as a left winger, and has hit double figures for goals in both of his seasons at the club. Gouiri is renowned for his formidable pace and ruthless finishing, spending his whole career to date in Ligue 1.
Rodrigo Bentancur - loan from Spurs: Tottenham went on a spending spree of their own, and had no space left to accommodate the Uruguay star in their squad. United needed numbers in midfield after Casemiro’s exit, and took the opportunity to snap up the ex-Juventus star on a loan deal with an option to buy at the end of the season.
Julian Brandt - free transfer from Borussia Dortmund: United pulled off a lovely bit of business in the middle of the window, fighting off fierce competition to sign free agent Brandt. The attacking midfielder has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, with his impressive playmaking and passing range making him a highly desirable player.
Man United’s summer signings predicted - Charles to Zhegrova
Shea Charles - £30m from Southampton: In the real world, United have been linked with Charles over the past few weeks, after his side were unable to secure promotion from the Championship following the infamous ‘Spygate’ saga. He’s a highly talented young midfielder with all the tools necessary to thrive in the Premier League.
Callum Hudson-Odoi - £25m from Nottingham Forest: United needed to bulk up their numbers on the left side, and launched a bold raid for the ex-England international. Forest made a significant profit on the dynamic winger who they signed from Chelsea for just £5m back in 2023. Still only 25-years-old, the rapid wide man was a gamble well worth taking.
Edon Zhegrova - loan from Juventus: The bold decision was made not to sign a new striker, with the Red Devils opting to snap up the Kosovar to add depth to the right wing. He only joined Juve last season, and had a rather underwhelming debut campaign, making 19 Serie A appearances all from the bench and failing to provide a single goal contribution. An unusual final deal, to say the least.
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