Before a ball was kicked during the 2025/26 campaign, very few people would have tipped Manchester United to secure a top-three finish in the Premier League.
Michael Carrick’s phenomenal run of just two losses in his 17 temporary matches in charge of the Red Devils saw the club catapult up the table and finish behind Arsenal and Manchester City.
The 44-year-old has since been handed the manager’s job on a permanent basis, penning a contract until the summer of 2027 with an option of a further year.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts after the match
Such a decision has injected added faith into the fanbase, with Carrick now tasked with mounting a potential title challenge in the next couple of seasons.
However, if he is to be successful in the role and end the wait for a league title, he will need significant backing from the hierarchy to take the playing squad to the next level in 2026/27.
Man Utd deal to land £35m star now “very advanced”
Despite the transfer window not opening for another couple of weeks, the United hierarchy have already identified a number of potential transfer targets for Carrick and his staff.
AC Milan winger Rafael Leao has emerged as the latest transfer target at Old Trafford, after the Portuguese international stated his desire for a new challenge this summer.
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It’s been reported that the 26-year-old is open to the possibility of a move to join the Red Devils, with a £40m fee expected to be demanded in the months ahead.
He’s not the only star from Serie A to appear on United’s radar in recent weeks, with Atalanta midfielder Ederson another player who continues to be touted with a move to Manchester.
Fabrizio Romano has once again provided an update on the situation, stating on his latest YouTube video that the move for the Brazilian is “very advanced”.
The journalist also confirmed that the 26-year-old has already reached full personal terms over a move, but a fee is yet to be agreed between the two clubs.
Romano stated in full: "Man United have already reached very advanced stages of the deal. It's very advanced. On player side it is done and we're waiting on the finishing touches from both clubs. They are working and I expect Ederson to be a Manchester United player unless something crazy happens."
A fee of €40m (£35m) is expected to be enough to get a deal done, with the Italian outfit looking to cash in on the player, who has just one year left on his current deal.
Why Ederson could be United’s next Paul Pogba
Whilst United have spent a pretty penny in their hunt for title success in recent seasons, very few players have been able to emulate the success of Paul Pogba.
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The Frenchman rejoined the Red Devils back in the summer of 2016 from Juventus, subsequently forking out a club-record £89m for the midfielder’s signature.
He was often a key box-to-box option at the heart of the first-team, even popping up with numerous world-class strikes or beautifully weighted assists for his teammates.
During his time at United, the French superstar scored 30 times and picked up another 51 assists - often catching the eye with his powerful running into the final third.
Man Utd's most expensive signings
Player
Paul Pogba
Antony
Harry Maguire
Romelu Lukaku
Jadon Sancho
Bryan Mbeumo
Benjamin Sesko
Rasmus Hojlund
The ending to his return to Old Trafford undoubtedly ended on a sour note, but there’s little denying that when he was in flow, he was a remarkable player to watch.
Ederson will be hoping he’s spoken about in a similar vein should he make his own transfer to the Theatre of Dreams this summer - but he will certainly have huge boots to fill.
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The Brazilian operates with a similar swagger to Pogba, also possessing a box-crashing style that has seen him pop up with his own impressive goal or two in Serie A.
His powerful running game could allow him to have a huge impact within attacking areas, but his main responsibility will no doubt be to add needed steel and strength to the heart of United’s midfield.
Ederson has caught the eye without the ball in recent months and, unsurprisingly so, given his remarkable tally of 2.4 tackles made and 5.5 ground duels won per 90 this term.
His skillset stretches to more than just physical dominance, with the 26-year-old able to influence a game - just as Pogba did during his second spell in Manchester.
He completed 89% of the passes he attempted in Serie A this campaign and achieved a 55% dribble success rate - both ranking him in the top 20% of midfielders in Italy’s top-division.
It certainly feels like a matter of when, not if, United get a deal over the line for Ederson, with the hierarchy already looking to build on the impressive end to the 2025/26 campaign.
ederson-atalanta
The need for added reinforcements at the heart of the side will place a huge amount of pressure on the Brazilian to succeed - especially given the levels produced by the likes of Pogba.
The Frenchman has laid out the blueprint of how to capture the hearts of the fanbase in Manchester. Now, it’s down to the potential new addition to write his own name in United history.
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