Lewis Hall remains Manchester United's top left-back target
Manchester United’s left‑back search has a clear frontrunner – and it is not Arsenal’s Myles Lewis‑Skelly.
United have been offered the chance to move for the highly rated Arsenal teenager, but Lewis Hall remains the club’s priority target on the left side of defence. The Newcastle defender has attracted the strongest interest from Old Trafford, and the feeling is mutual. The 21‑year‑old is understood to be keen on swapping St James’ Park for Manchester after a chaotic summer on Tyneside that has already seen Eddie Howe depart along with Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.
Newcastle are adamant Hall is not for sale. Michael Carrick, though, wants depth at left‑back with United back in the Champions League and braced for a four‑competition campaign. Hall’s frustrations reportedly stretch back to Howe’s tenure, with the defender believing tactical calls contributed to him missing out on England’s 2026 World Cup squad. The tension around his future is only growing.
Arsenal, sensing opportunity and needing to recoup funds after landing Guimaraes, have made Lewis‑Skelly available. The Guardian reports his price tag sits around £45million, with Chelsea also informed of the 19‑year‑old’s situation. For now, though, United’s gaze stays fixed on Hall.
United and Barcelona circle Salinas
There is another left‑back on the radar. Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas has drawn serious attention from both United and Barcelona, but any move will require cold, hard cash.
Racing sporting director Chema Aragon has already knocked back an offer worth more than £12m, making it clear the club will only sell for the 19‑year‑old’s €16m release clause. “A club has offered €14m for Jorge Salinas, and Racing have rejected it. His release clause is €16 million, and the club will not budge from that figure,” Aragon said.
Salinas is tied down until 2029 after helping Racing clinch promotion to La Liga, leaving United with a straight choice: pay the clause or walk away and watch Barcelona make their move.
Camavinga blow as Wharton race heats up
One midfield target looks out of reach. Another is edging into focus.
Eduardo Camavinga, long admired at Old Trafford, has made it clear he wants to stay at Real Madrid. The Athletic reports that Madrid have at least considered a sale amid interest from United, but the 23‑year‑old intends to remain at the Bernabeu regardless of what comes in. Any United pursuit would now mean an almighty fight against both the player’s wishes and Madrid’s valuation.
Attention is turning back to the Premier League. Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is firmly on United’s list, viewed as a controller who can carry the ball, dictate tempo and give Carrick a calmer grip on games from midfield. Palace have slapped a huge €100m (£86m) price on him. United are thought to be willing to go up to around £70m, leaving a sizeable gap that is currently slowing negotiations. Chelsea and Real Madrid are watching closely, adding pressure to a deal that already looks delicate.
Baleba, Camara and the midfield market
United’s midfield planning does not stop there. Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, once a major Old Trafford target, is now on Newcastle’s list of options, according to the Daily Mail. Newcastle are weighing up a move, and any bid from them would likely drag United into another direct battle in a market that is already stretched.
From France, Monaco’s Lamine Camara has emerged as another name on the agenda. Footmercato reports United, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Liverpool are all tracking the 22‑year‑old, who could follow Maghnes Akliouche out of the principality. Monaco value Camara at around €50m (£43m) and want that figure met in full before they consider selling. If United decide to push, they will not be alone at the table.
Striker hunt: Tresoldi, Jackson and the £100m problem
Up front, the picture is just as crowded – and just as expensive.
Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi is one of the forwards United are monitoring. The Germany Under‑21 international is also on the lists of Chelsea, Tottenham and Barcelona, with Roma already seeing a €35m offer rejected. Brugge are expected to demand around €45‑50m (£39‑43m). For United, Tresoldi would be competition for Benjamin Sesko, but any serious move is likely to depend on Joshua Zirkzee being sold.
Nicolas Jackson is another name with traction. Former United midfielder Quinton Fortune believes the Chelsea striker fits what Carrick needs. “Nicolas Jackson is an option for Manchester United. He’s just an out-and-out striker,” Fortune said. “He doesn’t really care about anything else apart from getting into the box and getting on the end of whatever service he’s provided, and there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s still the hardest part of the game.”
Jackson is understood to be available this summer, and Fortune’s verdict is clear: United need a focal point. Former goalkeeper Ben Foster agrees on the broader point, calling for a “big boy striker” even as he labelled Youri Tielemans the “signing of the summer” after his £30‑35m switch from Aston Villa. “The problem is, where are you going to get it from? And it’s going to cost you £100m, it’s the way it goes nowadays,” Foster said.
Rashford: back, wanted and in the spotlight
Marcus Rashford sits at the centre of several storylines at once.
On the pitch, Michael Carrick has confirmed the forward has returned from his loans at Aston Villa and Barcelona in excellent condition and could feature against AC Milan in the next pre‑season outing. “Rashford is our player and he’s come back great,” Carrick told ITV after the win over Leeds. “I’ve known him a long time and he gives us something a little bit different. We’re looking forward to the start of the season.” The 2026/27 campaign now looks increasingly likely to include Rashford in a United shirt again.
Away from Carrick’s plans, Tottenham have been urged to test United’s resolve. Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara wants his old club to go all‑in for Rashford as they search for a new left‑sided forward. “I just don’t know why we don’t go for Marcus Rashford,” O’Hara told Sky Sports. “I really think that Spurs should just go, how much do you want? How much can we get him for?
“If you get him at it with a point to prove, I just think he’s still one of the best players around. I think De Zerbi is the perfect man-manager for someone like Rashford. He’s a manager who will get the best out of him. I think he’d be a good signing.”
As if that were not enough, Rashford’s future is also tied to the wider question of Bruno Fernandes’ situation. The Portuguese playmaker remains the emotional and tactical heartbeat of this side, yet Juventus, AC Milan and Galatasaray are all reported to be interested as his contract runs towards its final year.
Bruno shines, stutters, and stays under the microscope
At Croke Park, Fernandes reminded everyone why his name dominates every United conversation.
Introduced from the bench in front of a packed crowd, he drew a huge roar, saw one effort ruled out for offside and then rattled the crossbar. He later missed in the penalty shootout, though Noussair Mazraoui eventually sealed a 5‑4 win over Leeds.
The game itself will be quickly forgotten. Fernandes’ future will not. His deal runs until 2027, and every appearance now feels like part of a longer negotiation – with United, with potential suitors, and perhaps with himself about what comes next.
Academy battles: JJ Gabriel, Kukonki and Williams
Behind the first team, United are fighting just as hard to keep hold of their brightest prospects.
JJ Gabriel has become a priority. The 15‑year‑old forward has erupted in the academy with 29 goals in 32 games for the Under‑18s, drawing interest from Chelsea and clubs across Europe. United are pushing to secure him once he is eligible to sign scholarship terms in October and remain confident they can keep him at Old Trafford.
Defender Godwill Kukonki also looks set to stay. The 6ft 5in centre‑back, now in the third year of his scholarship and yet to sign a professional deal, had been a notable absentee from pre‑season, fuelling speculation. The Manchester Evening News reports he has decided against leaving this summer and could now sign pro terms before heading out on loan. Championship sides Southampton, Birmingham City and Norwich are among those interested, with Premier League clubs also watching. Michael Carrick is understood to rate him highly, with a loan path potentially leading to a first‑team push in 2027/28.
One academy product has already gone. Winger Ethan Williams has joined Peterborough United on a permanent deal for a sizeable undisclosed fee, taking the No10 shirt in League One. The 20‑year‑old, who scored during United’s pre‑season win over Rosenborg and previously spent time on loan at Falkirk and Cheltenham, said: “I have been out on loan at a couple of clubs, have gained a lot of experience of men’s football and felt it was the right time to leave United and sign for Peterborough.”
Keeper conundrum: Mee’s moment and Barthez’s return
Dermot Mee may just have nudged himself into the conversation for a bigger role this season.
The 23‑year‑old goalkeeper replaced Senne Lammens and saved a crucial penalty in the shootout win over Leeds at Croke Park, helping United edge it 5‑4. Speaking to BBC Sport NI, Mee said: “Being able to have that extra bit of adrenaline at the end there, just gets you that extra few inches and helps you make a save.”
With Karl Darlow arriving on a free from Leeds and veteran Tom Heaton still around, Mee faces serious competition to become Lammens’ understudy. Even so, his display in Dublin may have earned him a shot at minutes in the domestic cups.
On the international stage, a familiar face is back in the limelight. Former United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has been appointed France’s new goalkeeping coach, joining forces again with Zinedine Zidane. The pair were central figures in France’s golden era, lifting the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, while Barthez collected 87 caps before retiring from international duty in 2006. For United fans, his new role stirs memories of Sir Alex Ferguson bringing him from Monaco in 2000.
Carrick’s new‑look squad takes shape
United’s summer work has already been substantial. Six permanent signings and two free transfers are through the door.
Karl Darlow and Kit Margetson have arrived without fees from Leeds United and Swansea City respectively. Cristian Orozco has joined from Fortaleza CEIF, Andrey Santos has been signed permanently from Chelsea, Tynan Thompson has come in from Tottenham, and Youri Tielemans has completed his move from Aston Villa.
The rebuild is not just on the pitch. Wayne Rooney has taken on a new role off it, fronting a Manchester United‑focused podcast with outspoken fan Mark Goldbridge. The pair will host “Stick to United”, a 50‑episode series centred on the club, following Disney+’s big‑money deal for Gary Neville’s “The Overlap”. Rooney and Goldbridge will sit alongside Neville’s “Stick to Football”, which continues to feature Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Ian Wright and Roy Keane. Episodes will appear on Disney+ and YouTube, with subscribers gaining early access to 20 exclusive shows.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, a former United full‑back could be on the move again. Aston Villa have held talks with West Ham over a potential £25m deal for Aaron Wan‑Bissaka, according to The Athletic. The right‑back, who spent five years at Old Trafford after joining from Crystal Palace in 2019, has rebuilt his career in east London and now finds himself wanted as Villa reassess their full‑back options.
The window still has time to run. United are in on multiple fronts: Hall and Salinas at left‑back, Wharton and Camara in midfield, Tresoldi and Jackson up front, while trying to lock down Gabriel and Kukonki for the future. Somewhere in the middle of it all sits Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, and the question that will define this new era at Old Trafford: can this reshaped squad finally match the size of the club’s ambition?
