Manchester United are preparing for a busy summer transfer window with eight players set to leave Old Trafford in order to fund a blockbuster £100million swoop
17:55, 05 Apr 2026
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: Elliot Anderson of England during the international friendly match between England and Japan at Wembley Stadium on March 31, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
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Manchester United want to sign Elliot Anderson(Image: Alex Pantling, Getty Images)
Manchester United are plotting to offload eight players in a bid to secure a blockbuster move for Elliot Anderson this summer. The Nottingham Forest star, who carries a £100million price tag, has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe keen to drum up funds for his signing by selling a host of players.
Rasmus Hojlund, Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, Andre Onana and Marcus Rashford are all set to be shown the door, according to The Sun. A minimum of £60million is being targeted for Hojlund and Rashford, given the buy-options in their loan deals to Napoli and Barcelona, respectively.
Significant losses are anticipated from Ugarte and Zirkee however, while it's reported that United need £19million for Onana to avoid taking a hit when it comes to complying with profit and sustainability regulations. The exits of Tyrell Malacia, Jadon Sancho and Casemiro as free agents will also help to ease the wage bill.
Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are both expected to leave Manchester United this summer
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Manuel Ugarte could follow Casemiro out of Manchester United this summer(Image: (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images))
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Casemiro's departure has already been confirmed, with the hope being that Anderson will be brought in as his successor. Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton, Joao Gomes and Carlos Baleba are other midfielders who have been mentioned in reports.
Anderson seems to be United's top target, but they will likely face stiff competition for his signature, particularly from Manchester City, who are contemplating the potential departure of Rodri in the coming transfer windows. Regardless of who takes the permanent reins, bolstering the midfield is clearly United's main focus, with two new arrivals expected if Ugarte follows Casemiro out of the club.
Securing a spot in next season's Champions League will be vital to fund this transfer strategy. Currently sitting third in the Premier League table, United are well-positioned to return to Europe's top tier next season, with five teams set to qualify through their league standings.
The international break and FA Cup quarter-finals mean there will be a 24-day gap between the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth and United's showdown with Leeds United on Monday, April 13.
Bruno Fernandes will be aiming to contribute to a goal for the fifth game in a row, with the 31-year-old currently in scintillating form. Alongside finding a replacement for Casemiro, United may soon need to consider identifying a successor to Fernandes.
Reports suggest that West Ham United ace Mateus Fernandes is being considered, with the Portuguese midfielder likely to be recommended by the United skipper. The Hammers' potential relegation from the Premier League could expedite this plan, with Fernandes possibly available at a bargain price and unlikely to remain at London Stadium to play Championship football.
United's return to European football will also necessitate a larger squad, with current depth in attack and defence far surpassing that in midfield.