Who Manchester United will sign in a transfer window is an oft-repeated question football fans ask across a season, the club usually one of the most willing to splash the cash and put their money where their mouth is.
While this approach hasn't resulted in a Premier League title in 10 years, Manchester United are invariably always willing to shell out on yet another high-profile transfer in a bid at glory once again.
Many of the players they are linked with usually don't end up joining the club, but if they do, it's usually to great fanfare and plenty of expectation.
But who will Manchester United sign this summer? FourFourTwo runs through the transfer rumours doing the rounds.
Who will Manchester United sign this summer?
Goalkeepers
David De Gea is often cited as not being good competent enough with the ball at his feet to play long-term for Erik ten Hag, but that hasn't stopped Emi Martinez's dad from posturing to the Red Devils. Speaking to TyC Sports, Martinez's dad said that he personally hopes a move to Manchester United materialises amid links with the Argentine goalkeeper.
However, other reports also suggest De Gea's time at Old Trafford is coming to an end, following mistakes made during the Europa League defeat to Sevilla and the fact he is still yet to finalise a new contract with United.
According to GiveMeSport, De Gea's reluctance to accept a pay cut means that the club are now looking at three options to replace him: Valencia's Girogi Mamardashvili, Porto's Diogo Costa and Brentford's David Raya.
With Valencia struggling in La Liga right now and in danger of a shock relegation, Mamardashvili could well be bought for far less than his value, which is estimated at around £45 million. Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur both want the Georgian, too.
Raya has just a year left on his contract and would seem like the smart buy for United, given that they have other targets to acquire across the pitch. The Spaniard is well thought of, however, by rivals, while employers Brentford may look to tie him down to better terms – especially if they qualify for Europe this season.
Costa, meanwhile, has a release clause of around £66m. With Porto unlikely to budge on that, it seems as if the Portuguese may well be a last resort if United fail to negotiate other deals or miss out on targets.
Borussia Dortmund's Gregor Kobel is also under consideration, as per The Independent. The 25-year-old is comfortable with the ball at his feet and has impressed since joining the German side in 2021.
Defenders
CaughtOffside are claiming that Manchester United want to double the wages of Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni, who is approaching the end of his contract at San Siro. The expensive part of the deal would therefore be the wages, which the outlet claims could easily be negotiated with the Red Devils willing to pay over the odds.
Spanish publication Fichajes also suggests United are keen on Bastoni in a bid to strengthen their defence. The Italian has a release clause of £40 million and just a year left on his contract this summer. Reports have suggested he has little intention of extending and with both Manchester sides interested, United look well poised to beat City to another deal.
Multiple outlets (Daily Mail and Footmercato) believe that Manchester United have "stepped up" their interest in signing Monaco defender Axel Disasi, valued at around £44 million.
A mainstay in the Ligue 1 side, Disasi is touted to move to Old Trafford and compete with Raphael Varane for a starting spot. Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are both reportedly unhappy with their lack of game time this season, which could pave the way for 25-year-old Disasi to join Manchester United.
Disasi and Bastoni aren't the only defenders being targeted for this summer, though.
At right-back, Denzel Dumfries has been consistently linked with Manchester United in recent years, and could finally make the switch in the summer. Inter Milan are reportedly interested in Diogo Dalot, too, meaning there could be potential for a swap deal between the two clubs, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Other right-back options are on the radar, too.
According to German outlet Kicker, United are looking to sign Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen. They would have direct competition from Arsenal for the right-back, though.
With Harry Maguire struggling for form, Ten Hag has reportedly identified Englishman Fikayo Tomori as a potential upgrade in the centre of defence, the Daily Mail writes.
Tomori has impressed since moving to Serie A, has the kind of recovery pace that Maguire lacks and is comfortable on both feet and on both sides of a defensive pairing. The England international has controversially seen his game time under Gareth Southgate limited, too, as the Three Lions manager opts for Maguire – out-of-favour at club level – over the rock of a Serie A title win last season.
According to Naples-based outlet Il Mattino, Napoli defender Kim Min-jae has agreed his transfer to the 20-time English league champions already, with just the final details to be finalised.
During an interview with Dutch source De Telegraaf – via Italian journalist, Fabrizio Romano – centre-back Jurrien Timber has claimed that he is set to leave the Netherlands this summer, with United chasing his signature.
Midfielders
ESPN report that Barcelona midfielder Gavi could be available for free in the summer, should the Catalan side fail to register him with first-team by July 1. With La Liga unhappy with Barcelona flouting their spending limits, it has refused to recognise Gavi's latest contract with the club, meaning it is null and void.
Therefore, a transfer fee might not be necessary for the diminutive midfielder, the 18-year-old having not actually signed a professional contract with Barcelona. Manchester United, naturally, are keen to swoop in and secure his services, though this will require plenty of negotiations to prise Gavi away from his boyhood club.
Manchester United are to beat Arsenal to sign Declan Rice this summer with a mammoth bid to heap "misery" on the Gunners' transfer plans. That's according to The Sun, which says the West Ham United captain has shot to the top of Erik ten Hag's wishlist.
According to The Sun, Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma is high up on Erik ten Hag's shortlist, the Manchester United manager impressed with the Japan international's dazzling displays on the south coast this season.
It is thought a bid in the region of €40m could be enough to get Brighton to the negotiation table, though whether Manchester United will prioritise a signing for Mitoma, who prefers to operate off the left-wing, remains to be seen.
PSV midfielder Xavi Simons desires a move to Old Trafford this summer to work with compatriot Erik ten Hag, the 19-year-old impressed with the former Ajax manager's coaching ability. Global transfer expert Ekrem Konur believes Manchester United share the same interest, and could pounce for him in the transfer window.
With Manchester United still light in central midfield, The Sun are reporting that Fulham's Joao Palhinha is a top target for the side. The Portuguese midfielder has impressed at Craven Cottage this season, and would be the perfect replacement for Casemiro if the Brazilian is ever missing.
With Mason Mount refusing to sign a contract extension at Chelsea, and the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge willing to cash in on the midfielder this summer as he enters the final year of his contract, Manchester United have been put on high alert.
He will be available on a cut-price deal, though it is still possible negotiations between Mount and Chelsea will make a breakthrough towards the end of the season.
Adrien Rabiot's contract with Juventus is due to expire on June 30, 2023, meaning Manchester United are able to sign him for free. According to 90min, United have asked to be kept informed of Rabiot's contract situation with his current employers. A deal was nearly struck last summer, meaning this saga could well be rekindled.
French publication L'Equipe is reporting that United are keen on bringing Rabiot to Old Trafford this summer on a free transfer in a bid to bolster their midfield numbers. United were in for Rabiot last summer, too, but decided against a deal for the Frenchman because of steep demands. The Juventus star was reportedly asking for around £15m in wages and fees through his agent and mother, Veronique.
Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister will seemingly be highly-sought after this summer, with Manchester United among the interested parties. Indeed, according to CBS Sports, United held discussions with the Argentine's representatives since World Cup 2022. However, Brighton will likely command a transfer fee exceeding £60 million.
Davide Frattesi is also among the names linked with a move to Old Trafford, with Tuttomercatoweb suggesting the Italian central midfielder is on the radar of club chiefs after impressing for Sassuolo in recent seasons. Juventus and Roma are also interested with the Serie A side demanding €30 million.
Manchester United are "already negotiating" a deal for Ruben Neves, in a bid to strengthen their midfield, according to Spanish outlet SPORT.
Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri has claimed that Southampton star Romeo Lavia is on the radar for the 20-time English champions – which is sure to anger rivals Manchester City, who sold him to the south coast last summer.
Marcel Sabitzer has hinted that we wants to stay at Manchester United beyond his loan spell, which runs until the end of the season. Sabitzer has fuelled rumours in an interview with German outlet BILD, saying: "This is initially a project until the summer, then we'll see. Until then, I want to give everything here. It's a loan deal with no options; the situation will be assessed in the summer."
Manchester United are interested in Ghanaian star Mohammed Kudus, who looks set to leave his club this summer. According to The Athletic, Kudus has told Ajax he is seeking a move away from the Amsterdam Arena this summer, after rejecting a one-year extension at the club in April. While his contract runs until 2025, the report indicates Ajax will look to offload the 22-year-old sooner rather than later, in order to obtain a larger transfer fee.
The Amsterdammers are likely to entertain bids for around £40 million – and with Ten Hag stating in the past that the star has "incredible potential", a third signing from de Godenzonen seems on the cards.
Spanish outlet Fichajes are making the claim that United are now targeting Utrecht midfielder, Taylor Booth. The 21-year-old American international Booth has enjoyed a breakout season in the Dutch top tier. Booth was at Bayern Munich – but when the Bavarians failed to offer him a new deal last summer, he joined Utrecht and has gone from strength to strength.
According to The Telegraph's Midlands football reporter, John Percy, United are in for James Maddison, who is valued somewhere between £45 million and £60m by Leicester.
Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have both been linked historically but this is the first time that Manchester United have been linked as a frontrunner for the England international's services.
Forwards
A bonkers swap deal between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur could be on the cards, with the former offering Dean Henderson plus cash in exchange for Harry Kane.
After Manchester Evening News suggested that Tottenham are demanding a nine-figure fee upfront for Kane, ESPN reported that Manchester United were willing to get creative in their pursuit for England's record goalscorer. That involves adding Henderson, currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, into a potential deal between the two sides.
Kane is also said to be interested in a move to Old Trafford, with the allure of trophies set to bring his time at Tottenham to an end. There's plenty that has been said in the meantime.
However, Sky Sports believe Spurs chairman Daniel Levy isn't willing to negotiate for his star striker whatsoever - despite him having just a year left on his contract in the summer.
Victor Osimhen is also heavily linked with a transfer, with Manchester United lacking a dominant striker up front. While this would involve a hefty price tag - £132 million, according to Il Mattino - Osimhen has said it is an "ambition" to move to the Premier League one day.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, meanwhile, recently told TNT Sports via TeamTalk that sometimes “offers can't be refused,” seemingly referencing his star striker, claiming, “I will never say never. Sometimes there are offers you can’t refuse, so you never know. To me, though, I hope we’ll see them shine for a long time.”
Should Manchester United miss out on both Kane and Osimhen, there are still alternatives. Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha have claimed that United have held a series of talks with Jorge Mendes over his client, Goncalo Ramos.
Benfica have set a £106m (€120m) exit clause in his deal, with the striker contracted until 2026. However, he might be available for cheaper.
Should Manchester United look for cheaper alternatives, then Brighton's Evan Ferguson might be the answer. The 18-year-old has scored seven goals in his first 16 appearances for the Seagulls, who are challenging for Champions League qualification. According to Football Insider, United's scouts have been watching Ferguson closely as they consider making a move before the start of next season.
The Red Devils are reportedly keen on bringing in Neymar Jr from Paris Saint-Germain. According to L'Equipe, Manchester United have entered talks with the Brazilian to bring him to club, either permanently or agreeing to an initial loan while contributing to his substantial salary.
Furthermore, Casemiro has reportedly been conversing with his Selecao colleague to convince him of the project that United are building under Erik ten Hag. PSG are also willing to sell the 31-year-old in the summer transfer window.
Tammy Abraham and Lautaro Martinez are seen as possible striking options as well.
The Benfica phenomenon caught attention in Qatar as the only player to net a hat-trick at the 2022 World Cup – and with players Portuguese league successfully transitioning to the Premier League in recent years, United have reason to believe that the move would work.
AC Milan's Raphael Leao is also on the radar for Manchester United, and could dovetail well with Marcus Rashford on either the left-wing or as a centre-forward, depending on Erik ten Hag's tactical plan. According to PianetaMilan, Leao would welcome a move to the Premier League, with his contract expiring in 2024.
Leao has reportedly signed a new contract with Milan, though, keeping him at San Siro until at least 2028.
SportBILD are claiming that Manchester United are prepared to offer around a record bid for Eintracht Frankfurt star Randal Kolo Muani, who has been in scintillating form all season in the Bundesliga.
The 24-year-old moved to Germany last summer from Nantes and has taken European football by storm this term. Kolo Muani has 30 goals and assists from 34 matches up front – and was a part of the France squad that reached the 2022 World Cup final, stepping in for the injured Christopher Nkunku on the eve of the competition.
Manchester United could capitalise on the drama with Sadio Mane at Bayern Munich and bring the Senegalese back to the Premier League. The Mirror have suggested that the 31-year-old could move to Manchester United, citing comments made last year that he could have joined the Red Devils prior to his Liverpool move. Indeed, Louis van Gaal confirmed to FourFourTwo in 2020 that Mane was close to joining him at Old Trafford.
Sky Sport Germany has also reported that Mane is set to leave the Allianz Arena this summer with Manchester United vying for his signature. It's actually resurfaced via The Mirror that the Senegalese actually agreed on a deal with the Red Devils prior to a move to Liverpool. United could now feasibly get their man seven years after first trying.
Manchester United are considering a summer swoop for Joao Felix, with Chelsea set to opt against making the forward's loan from Atletico Madrid permanent. Felix, 23, joined the Blues in January on a deal until the end of the season, having extended his Atletico contract until 2027 before the move.
As such, his price tag will have shot up – and Chelsea are said to have reservations about Atletico's £88m valuation of the Portuguese international, potentially leaving the door open for United to pounce.
Gift Orban, currently playing for Belgian side Gent, has attracted the attention of Manchester United with his impressive displays in the second half of the season, and is seen as a promising alternative to Victor Osimhen.
Wout Weghorst has spent the second half of the season on loan at Old Trafford and, according to the Dutchman himself, talks are progressing well over a permanent move.
