Michael Carrick aims to improve Manchester United’s midfield (Image: Getty)
Manchester United’s summer transfer activity has gotten off to a rather slow start this year, mainly due to the World Cup. The majority of players refuse to decide on their future until their participation in the tournament is over. This has forced supporters to be patient as they wait for official approval. United have been working hard to make progress on the issue, with international football in the spotlight.
Atalanta’s Ederson is expected to be the Red Devils’ first signing and would have already attracted attention had it not been for the 26-year-old’s belated call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad. The Selecao’s 2-1 win over Japan meant his unveiling was delayed yet again. The Red Devils are also looking to sign another midfielder. However, Manchester City and Tottenham lost to Elliott Anderson and Matheus Fernandes respectively. Sandro Tonali could also join Spurs.
United may want to explore the free transfer market to strengthen their squad, as they need reinforcements in various positions outside of midfield. With this in mind, Express Sport selects four free agents United could sign.
United’s options to replace Manuel Ugarte this summer are somewhat limited. Before his injury, the team was considering adding another midfielder to ease the burden on the Uruguayan international.
A long-term knee injury makes that impossible, leaving the Red Devils with a dilemma. With the likes of Tyler Fletcher and Jim Thwaites gaining attention in the academy, they could look inward.
Alternatively, a free transfer could prove to be the wisest route, given the difficulty of signing a new midfielder who is known to be just a reserve. If they pursue that path, Bissouma could be considered as a way to add depth to their midfield. He was just released by Spurs after a disastrous injury-plagued period.
He came to United’s attention during his time at Brighton, and despite a very disappointing showing in the north London branch, Bissouma was still able to provide valuable experience in the middle of the park. He certainly won’t serve as Casemiro’s successor, but he has plenty of experience in the Premier League.
Yves Bissouma does not currently own a club (Image: Getty)
Goretzka’s World Cup ended early Tuesday morning with Germany losing to Paraguay on penalties. The 31-year-old’s attention will now turn to resolving the club’s future. He featured regularly for Bayern Munich throughout last season and will bring considerable midfield expertise to United.
Goretzka is less of a gamble than Bissouma, given that he has recorded more appearances in 2025/26 than the former Spurs midfielder. There are claims that he does not match INEOS’ blueprint for a midfielder.
He lacks Premier League experience and is definitely not a long-term investment. But with a young squad lacking Champions League pedigree, Goretzka could prove to be the ideal man to fill that gap.
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Leon Goretzka is looking for a new club (Image: Getty)
Real Madrid’s Aurelien Choameny is thought to be a dream signing for United this summer, but his former team-mate could be a strong alternative. Ceballos was hit by injuries and his spell at Madrid ended on a difficult note.
That said, he would provide midfield experience that United urgently need and would likely be happy with his role in the team if it is guaranteed to remain at the Champions League club.
Ceballos already has Premier League experience, having previously played for Arsenal, making him an interesting player for Michael Carrick and co.
The striker’s tenure at Juventus took a turn for the worse as protracted contract negotiations failed to reach a conclusion. Fitness setbacks also didn’t help Vlahovic, who missed a significant portion of last season with muscle issues.
Since his return, he has performed well, scoring four goals in the last four games in Serie A. At 26, he is at a promising age and could be nearing his prime.
Both Barcelona and Chelsea are said to be interested in him, and he could serve as a reliable alternative to Benjamin Sesco for Carrick.
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