For the first time in a long time, Manchester United could make a case toward fighting for the Premier League title next season, albeit still outsiders in the race for that elusive prize.
It's been 13 years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, ending a Man United career so replete with Premier League titles. They have not come first since, with so much turmoil over the past decade sure to have left the iconic coach incredulous in his seat at Old Trafford.
Man United in the Premier League (2025/26)
24/25
20
8
7
5
34/29
31
1.55
Michael Carrick changed the mood when he replaced a rather beleaguered Ruben Amorim in January, somehow lifting United up the table and back into the Champions League. He's been a real hit, but the Red Devils have lost Casemiro this summer, and they need midfielders.
Andrey Santos has already joined from Chelsea for around £50m, but he's young and inexperienced. More is needed, someone like Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans, perhaps.
Why Man Utd are closing in on deal for Youri Tielemans
Tielemans is 29, but he has a weath of Premier League experience and a winning mentality hardened over recent years with Unai Emery at Villa Park.
INEOS's first port of call might have been Atalanta's Ederson, but that £35m move has fallen through after the Brazilian's failed medical.
United have decided to pivot, and Tielemans could be a shrewd alternative, falling into a similar financial ballpark. Surely, he's closing in on his 30th birthday, but the Belgium international would give United an instant facelift, a perfect counterpoint to Kobbie Mainoo in the middle of the Old Trafford park.
World Cup 2026 Quiz
You scored
↩ Play again
A finely weighted technical profile, Tielemans is a versatile midfielder with eagle-eyed vision, crisp passing and an active and combative defensive game.
Moreover, at £35m, he won't break the bank, allowing Jason Wilcox and company to focus their attention on other positions that still need filling. After all, had United maintained their interest in Elliot Anderson, who has joined Manchester City, they would be £116m lighter.
Youri-Tielemans
A couple of forwards would go down a treat, but United's backline could also do with a touch of make-up, and Carrick and the board appear to have sounded out a Premier League talent to head over to the Theatre of Dreams.
A better signing than Tielemans could be on the way
Even if INEOS manage to get a deal for Tielemans over the line in the coming days or weeks, Man United will likely continue shopping for another midfielder.
However, suggestions have been made regarding United's need for a left-back, and a recent claim from TEAMtalk confirms that Carrick is personally driving Man United's bid to sign Lewis Hall from Newcastle United.
Newcastle's Lewis Hall
United have drawn up a shortlist filled with a variety of talented left-backs, but the £60m-rated Hall remains United's priority, with the England international, overlooked by Thomas Tuchel for this summer's World Cup campaign, keen on the move.
If anyone has any reservations over the 21-year-old's ability, they need only hark back to the Magpies' double-legged Champions League tie against Barcelona last season.
He put on a clinic, with pundit Paul Merson saying he "got the better of Lamine Yamal" in "one of the best" performances he'd seen in a long while.
Lewis Hall vs Barcelona (10/03/26)
Stats
Minutes played
Goals + Assists
Goals Conceded
Touches
Accurate passes
Chances created
Crosses
Dribbles
Recoveries
Tackles won
Interceptions
Clearances
Duels won
Hall and Tielemans do not correlate; they occupy different zones of the field and are tasked with different responsibilities. However, looking at the pound-for-pound value of these two bids, it's fair to say that Hall could be the shrewder and more impactful addition.
Tielemans, for all his quality, missed two separate chunks of the 2025/26 season with injury problems. Hall has not been without fitness problems of his own, but he is far younger, and would have Luke Shaw to serve as his foil on the left side of Carrick's backline next term.
Tielemans is a sharp signing, but he's no spring chicken, heightening the need for Carrick to get bang for his buck from the outset.
Hall, however, also has a wealth of experience in the Premier League, with many promising years ahead of him too. The English talent is technical and secure on the ball. He also knows a thing or two about midfield play after his early years in Chelsea's academy.
lewis-hall-newcastle
All in all, this young and developing Englishman could be Man United's star summer signing, should they push to secure his signature.
Bruno-Fernandes-Manchester-United Related
Fernandes' dream teammate: Why Man Utd want to sign former Spurs star
Manchester United have set their sights high with one transfer target this summer.