SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Michael Carrick, Manager of Manchester United, interacts with Regis Le Bris, Manager of Sunderland, prior to the Premier League match between Sunderland and Manchester United at Stadium of Light on May 09, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Manchester United have been among the busiest Premier League clubs in the early stages of the summer transfer window, but the Old Trafford chiefs have no intention of putting the brakes on their recruitment campaign.
There’s a restored sense of belief at the Theatre of Dreams after Michael Carrick steered the club back to the UEFA Champions League despite the team’s past struggles under Ruben Amorim.
United spent roughly £215 million last summer on several elite signings, including Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, all of whom played important roles in the club’s third-place finish in 2025/26.
A fresh wave of spending could be on the horizon, especially considering the Red Devils’ desperate desire to ascend the Premier League throne for the first time in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Several investments have already been made, with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans joining the club to fill the midfield void left by Casemiro’s departure at the end of last season.
In addition to the Brazilian veteran, Man Utd could soon part ways with Manuel Ugarte, who has fallen out of favour after two hugely underwhelming seasons at Old Trafford.
Ugarte’s expected exit could be the reason behind United’s pursuit of Real Madrid duo Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, though the latter’s arrival feels much closer to becoming a reality.
However, there are other equally pressing matters the Red Devils would be wise to address before the transfer window comes to a close.
Despite Harry Maguire’s remarkable resurgence under Carrick, Man Utd would be naive to over-rely on the Englishman, whose proneness to inconsistency and scandalous mistakes has become infamous in recent years.
Speaking of patchy performances, Leny Yoro has endured another stop-start season, raising questions over his ability to live up to his £52.2m transfer fee, even though he showed some promising signs towards the end of the campaign.
When fit, Lisandro Martinez remains one of the most reliable defenders on the teamsheet, but his persistent injury problems make him an unreliable option over the course of a long season.
Matthijs de Ligt has been on the sidelines for quite a while now, and there are no guarantees he’ll return at the same level after such a lengthy layoff, intensifying the need for a new centre-back.
Bringing in another top-class defender would not only increase competition for places but also provide the defensive stability the Red Devils need to compete on multiple fronts.
Luke Shaw defied his horrible injury record last season, starting each of Man Utd’s 38 Premier League matches. So for the first time in years, left-back is no longer a position of concern for the club, especially with Patrick Dorgu providing reliable cover.
Yet, the situation on the opposite flank is far less reassuring.
Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot have flattered to deceive, and although they remain useful squad players, neither has shown enough to convince they are the long-term answer at right-back.
Moreover, the Moroccan star could be on his way out in the coming weeks, with AC Milan and several other European clubs reportedly vying for his signature amid United’s readiness to negotiate his sale.
If Mazraoui ends up leaving, the Red Devils would be left dangerously short of quality on the right flank. With the Champions League returning to Old Trafford, relying solely on Dalot would be a risky gamble.
Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko are all perfectly capable of playing as centre-forwards, though the Slovenian starlet remains the only out-and-out striker at Carrick’s disposal now that Joshua Zirkzee is set to bid farewell.
While Cunha and Mbeumo have fared reasonably well when asked to lead the line, neither is a natural target man, leaving Sesko as the only established No. 9 in the squad.
Given the relentless schedule that comes with competing on multiple fronts, Man Utd would be taking an unnecessary risk by entering the season without another robust striker.
United would be forgiven for putting their trust in Marcus Rashford, whose future at the club remains uncertain, but with his long-term plans shrouded in mystery, signing another striker would make more sense.