Manchester United’s new hierarchy is anything but faultless, but the club’s recent transfer record has been impressive. And Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his executives want to keep it that way.
Evolving their approach from a previous wildly unsuccessful scattergun one has been crucial. Meticulous planning now goes into every recruitment move.
Instead of splashing the cash desperately in January, the summer is where they will likely do plenty of business, with particular focus on midfield. The pursuit of their three top targets – Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba – is in full swing. More than one midfield purchase is likely.
It is not just new arrivals who will give United senior figures major decisions to make.
Maguire’s future
Harry Maguire is very highly thought of at United for his conduct around Carrington and how young players look up to him. His performances in recent weeks, after he fought hard to win his first-team spot back yet again, have been crucial to Michael Carrick’s mini-revival.
The 32-year-old’s contract, where he earns around £200,000 a week, runs out in the summer. Senior figures are divided over whether to offer him a new one, The i Paper has been told, and are unlikely to exercise the option for an extra year in his current deal.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to cut the wage bill down, especially by getting rid of ageing top earners. Casemiro, the club’s highest-paid player, and others on large salaries will leave.
But Maguire could be the exception, and the England international is willing to take a substantial pay cut of about £80,000 a week.
Some senior executives feel Maguire’s value on and off the pitch, in a dressing room devoid of leaders, could be crucial.
No decision has been made yet over whether a new deal will be offered, with interest from other Premier League clubs and across Europe, mainly from Italy, in Maguire.
Funds from exits
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Manuel Ugarte of Manchester United during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion on January 11, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Ugarte is expected to leave Old Trafford (Photo: Getty)
Whenever Manuel Ugarte plays for United, chaos ensues. His appearance from the bench on Sunday was no different, with Carrick’s side vulnerable in the extreme whenever Casemiro and the Uruguayan trade places.
As a result of his poor form, United are understood to be looking to move Ugarte on in the summer, with three Turkish clubs, including Galatasaray, interested.
Recovering even half the £50m they paid Paris Saint-Germain for the defensive midfielder will represent a major result.
Others will also leave. Marcus Rashford should secure his dream permanent switch to Barcelona, even though the cash-strapped Catalans are currently struggling to match his £26m option-to-buy included in his loan move.
Jadon Sancho will be released after his nightmare five-year spell at Old Trafford comes to end this summer. Sancho and Rashford’s exits alone will save around £500,000-a-week in wages.
Bruno Fernandes’ future is less clear, with talks expected between the skipper’s representatives and United officials before he heads to this summer’s World Cup.
Sesko forces rethink
The area of the squad that has had the most recent investment is the striker department – to startling success. United have gone from a turgid watch last term to Premier League’s third top goalscorers, with no team having more shots at goal this term.
New, proven Premier League forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have particularly impressed, but £74m signing Benjamin Sesko has not had quite the same impact, ensuring United’s recruitment department remained on alert when putting together their summer transfer plans. Another number nine was not out of the question.
Sesko’s conduct behind the scenes at Carrington, however, has started to win officials over, persuading them to remain focused solely on the midfield rebuild.
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Despite spending plenty of time on the bench, the Slovenia international is described as one of the hardest workers in the group and has not showed any effect of his on-field inconsistency.
His determination to not become the latest in a long line of big-money flops has not gone unnoticed.
The culmination of his hard work came with his stoppage-time winner against Fulham on Sunday. Sesko was mobbed by every single one of United’s substitutes warming up on the touchline, showing his growing popularity and stature at the club.