ESPN reports that this summer, Manchester United is both rebuilding the team's future and attempting to avoid repeating past mistakes. Numerous errors in the transfer market have largely dictated the club's approach this summer. The primary objective is to drive the team's transformation without repeating past mistakes that have weakened the squad.

Some fans might argue that in an environment where many top clubs spend over £100 million on individual players, Manchester United's reluctance to spend large sums signals a lack of ambition. However, CEO Omar Berrada and Football Director Jason Wilcox have indicated that lessons from the past make a degree of caution necessary.

Why is that? Compared to most clubs, Manchester United finds it harder to shed the burden of failed contracts.

Manuel Ugarte is one example. The Uruguayan player moved to Old Trafford in 2024 for over £50 million, delivered mid-table performances over two seasons, and has been listed for sale this summer. The club knows that to recoup funds, they need at least around £20 million, but given his recent form and wage demands, achieving that target is unlikely.

The best Manchester United can hope for is to find a club willing to cover his full wages on a loan. However, he suffered a serious knee injury during the World Cup, effectively ending any chance of a move. FIFA's club protection scheme will cover Manuel Ugarte's wages during his injury recovery.

But the injury merely delays the problem. Manuel Ugarte's contract runs until June 2029, meaning Manchester United must still find a solution for him next summer or beyond.

Manuel Ugarte's situation could continue to disrupt the team for another three years, and this is precisely the scenario Berrada and Wilcox want to avoid.

Rebuilding Midfield

After completing attacking reinforcements last year, Manchester United's focus this summer is strengthening the midfield.

Manchester United acquired three Premier League-experienced players: Ánderson, Youssouf Fofana, and Noé Emmanoel, with combined spending of £155 million. According to ESPN sources, compared to market value, all three signings represent good value with manageable risk. In contrast, the combined transfer fees for Elliott Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Enzo Fernández totaled £341 million.

Manchester United was initially interested in Anderson but was only willing to pay Nottingham Forest's initial valuation of £70 million. The club also tracked Tonali, but given his previous gambling violation ban, they deemed a major acquisition too risky.

Budget was also a significant constraint, particularly because the team struggled to offload surplus players. Manchester City's player sales this summer brought in nearly £350 million, while Manchester United's incoming transfers generated less than £50 million.

Barcelona was initially expected to sign Marcus Rashford on loan with an option to buy, and Joshua Zirkzee could have generated transfer revenue for the club. However, Barcelona opted to sign Anthonny Gordon instead to fill their winger gap. Manchester United's negotiations with multiple clubs for Zirkzee's departure all failed, with new offers only appearing in the final hours of the transfer deadline, by which time it was too late.

The club's financial situation means they cannot spend several hundred million pounds in a single transfer window. Manchester United had the funds to match Tottenham's £85 million bid for Matheus Fernandes, a key midfield target, but ultimately decided against pursuing it. This was partly because Fernandes showed no desire to join Old Trafford during negotiations—a significant red flag.

Berrada and Wilcox place great emphasis on a player's genuine desire to join the team, with Matthijs de Ligt and Brian Mbeumo serving as positive examples from last summer. They succeeded in landing their targets; this year, they had to adjust their plans flexibly.

After a deal for Anderson fell through due to health concerns, Manchester United accelerated negotiations with Chelsea for Santos. Having abandoned the Fernández pursuit, the club quickly activated Youssouf Fofana's £35 million release clause.

Following Fofana's signing, the club moved on from Miles Lewis-Skelly after confirming the player would stay at Arsenal. Manchester United then turned its attention to Noé Emmanuel. Brighton's initial asking price was £120 million, which eventually came down to £70 million through negotiation.

The transfer process encountered additional obstacles.

Manchester United continued tracking Sander Berge, with data analysis suggesting his performances last season were comparable to Fernández's time at West Ham. However, agents increasingly prefer sending their players to mid-table Premier League clubs, where consistent playing time is available before a later move to a top club, commanding higher fees and wages.

Gaisedo followed this path, moving to Chelsea for £115 million after a full season with a mid-table club. Berge and his team chose to move to another mid-table side this summer for approximately £40 million. If he performs well this season, his transfer value and wage expectations will increase significantly by 2027.

No Need to Chase Transfer Market "Winners"

ESPN sources indicate that Manchester United's top priority next summer is rebuilding the defense.

Berrada and Wilcox are satisfied with last year's signings of De Ligt, Mbeumo, Sesco, and Senne-Lamens. The absence of major transfer errors this past summer allowed the club to prioritize midfield reinforcements as planned. If this summer's transfer window avoids major mistakes, the club can unlock budget to sign center-backs and full-backs before the 2027-28 season.

Within the club, this approach is called "foundation building": continuous team improvement without repeatedly fixing preventable problems.

Sources indicate that Manchester United recognizes that when the transfer window closes on Tuesday, the team still hasn't addressed the left-back weakness. David Raum was told he could leave throughout the summer, and Manchester United had the opportunity to sign the 28-year-old for approximately £30 million on a 4-5 year contract. However, the club believed this signing would derail their subsequent transfer plans, so they passed.

Lois Hall is the primary target for left-back, but Newcastle United refused to open negotiations, so that deal must wait until next year. If Hall had been prioritized this summer, there would be no budget for Noé Emmanuel.

Manchester United also considered short-term solutions to fill positional gaps. In the final week of the transfer window, a player agent strongly recommended Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester United; on the final day, it became clear that Manchester City would only agree to a mandatory purchase clause. Given the long-term transfer commitments involved, Manchester United withdrew from negotiations.

The club understands the current situation is not perfect, but their goal is not to "win" a single transfer window, but rather to create conditions to acquire desired targets next summer. Manchester United hopes this long-term strategy will ultimately prove successful.

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