ESPN reports that this summer, Manchester United simultaneously worked to reshape the team's future while attempting to avoid repeating past mistakes. Numerous transfer market errors have largely shaped the club's approach this summer. The primary objective is to gradually rebuild the squad while ensuring they do not repeat past mistakes that have hampered the team.

Some fans might argue that in an environment where major clubs spend over £100 million on a single player, Manchester United's reluctance to spend lavishly signals a lack of ambition. However, CEO Omar Berrada and Football Director Jason Wilcox have stated that given lessons from the past, a degree of caution is necessary.

Why is this? Compared to most clubs, Manchester United finds it far more difficult to offload underperforming players.

Ugarte is a case in point. The Uruguayan midfielder joined Old Trafford for a fee exceeding £50 million in 2024, had two underwhelming seasons, and is now on the summer sale list. The club knows that to break even, they would need an offer around £20 million, but given his recent performances and wage demands, achieving that target seems unlikely.

Manchester United's best hope is to find a club willing to cover his entire salary on loan. However, he suffered a serious knee injury at the World Cup, which has completely ruled out a departure. FIFA's Club Protection Program will cover Ugarte's wages while he is absent due to injury.

But the injury merely postpones the problem. Ugarte's contract runs until June 2029, meaning Manchester United will still need to find a solution for him next summer, or possibly later.

The Ugarte issue could haunt the team for another three years, a situation Berrada and Wilcox are keen to avoid.

Midfield Overhaul

After completing their attacking line rebuild last year, Manchester United's focus this summer has been strengthening the midfield.

Manchester United has acquired three players with Premier League experience: André Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Moisés Caicedo, with a combined investment of £155 million. ESPN sources indicate that compared to market prices, all three deals represent excellent value for money with controlled risk. The combined cost of three midfield transfers for Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Enzo Fernández reached £341 million.

Manchester United was initially interested in Anderson but was only willing to match Nottingham Forest's initial valuation of £70 million. The club also considered Tonali, but given his betting violation history and suspension, they deemed a major acquisition too risky.

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

It was initially expected that Barcelona would trigger a loan-to-buy clause for Marcus Rashford, and Joshua Zirkzee would also generate transfer income for the team. However, Barcelona opted to sign Anthony Gordon to fill the wing vacancy instead. Manchester United's negotiations with several clubs regarding Zirkzee's transfer all fell through, and new interest only emerged at the deadline, but by then it was too late.

The club's financial situation meant they could not spend £300-400 million in a single transfer window. Manchester United had the funds to match Tottenham's £85 million offer for Matheus Fernandes, who was already Manchester United's primary midfield target. However, the club ultimately decided against it, partly because Fernandes never showed strong enthusiasm to join Old Trafford during negotiations, a red flag the club felt it could not ignore.

Berrada and Wilcox place great value on a player's genuine desire to join, and summer signings like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo exemplified this approach. Last summer, they secured their targets, but this year they needed to adjust their plans flexibly.

After a deal for Ederson fell through due to medical issues, Manchester United accelerated negotiations with Chelsea for Santos. After abandoning their pursuit of Fernandes, the team quickly activated Tielemans's £35 million release clause.

After signing Tielemans, the club pursued Lewis-Skelly. After confirming the player would remain at Arsenal, Manchester United shifted focus to Moisés Caicedo. Brighton initially demanded £120 million, which was eventually negotiated down to £70 million.

The transfer process faced other obstacles as well.

Manchester United continued monitoring Ismael Bentaleb, with data analysis suggesting his last season performance was comparable to Fernandes during his time at West Ham. However, there is now a trend where agents prefer sending their players to mid-table Premier League clubs. Players can secure consistent playing time, then move to a top-six club later, commanding higher transfer fees and wages.

Caicedo followed this path, joining Chelsea for £115 million after a full season at a mid-table club. Bentaleb and his team chose to move to another mid-table club this summer for an estimated £40 million. If he performs well this season, his transfer value and wage expectations will increase significantly by 2027.

No Need to "Win" the Transfer Window

ESPN sources indicate that Manchester United's primary focus for next summer will be defensive reinforcement.

Berrada and Wilcox are satisfied with last year's signings of Cunha, Mbeumo, Sesko, and Seny Dieng. The absence of major errors in last summer's window allowed the team to prioritize midfield strengthening as planned. If this summer's window also avoids mistakes, the club will have funds available to sign center-backs and wing-backs before the 2026-27 season.

Internally, the club refers to this approach as "building blocks": gradually refining the squad without repeatedly cleaning up avoidable messes.

Sources indicate that Manchester United is aware that the transfer window closed on Tuesday and the team still has not addressed the left-back shortage. David Raum was told throughout the summer he could leave, and Manchester United had the opportunity to sign the 28-year-old for an estimated £30 million on a four-to-five-year contract. However, the club believed this signing would disrupt their next transfer planning phase and therefore declined.

Lewis Hall is the primary target for left-back, but Newcastle United refused to open negotiations, so this deal must be postponed until next year. If Hall was prioritized this summer, there would be no budget for Caicedo.

Manchester United also considered short-term solutions to fill the position gap. In the final week of the transfer window, an agent proactively offered Rayan Aït-Nouri to Manchester United; on deadline day, Manchester City explicitly stated that any deal must include a mandatory purchase clause. After learning of the long-term transfer obligation, Manchester United withdrew from negotiations.

The club understands that the current situation is not perfect, but their goal is not to "win" a single transfer window, but to establish conditions for successfully acquiring their desired targets next summer. Manchester United hopes this long-term strategy will ultimately bear fruit.

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