They’ve been creative with the structure of the transfer payments so far tbf.
Even if they don’t get Baleba there must be some funds there to go for another target such as Wharton or Ederson, or they might leave it another year.
I’d say Fernandes leaves next summer.
Mounty
Casimiro
Bruno
Sancho
Rashford
The last of the big contracts?
Three of those are guaranteed to be gone by next summer if not sooner.
Is Donaruma a runner? He’s a good shotstopper but fairly on crosses from recollection.
Id imagine his wages would be an issue
I wouldn’t really think so tbh. There is something a bit off about him. My understanding is he’d a great few months for psg last year but had been underwhelming at times before that.
Extraordinary shotstopper on form. Good at penalty shootouts too…
I’m over at the Burnley game at the end of the month. Ale will be had…
If they can somehow land the Don then on paper it’s the most impressive transfer window in years.
Is it impressive if they pay top dollar for a hape of lads? They’ll have spent 300 million quid in a couple of months. Some going for a club that had made 400 people redundant.
If they can get Donnaranuma they should move heaven and earth and give him a 5 yr contract. Forget about the other signings if they can get him next.
From The Athletic
Manchester United are continuing to explore whether a move for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba can be agreed this summer.
The talks, taking place via intermediaries on United’s behalf, have so far been to assess his willingness to join and the salary required — plus Brighton’s potential valuation.
Brighton do not intend to sell the 21-year-old in this market, preferring to keep him for at least another season, and have not indicated a price so far.
But United are determined to reshape Ruben Amorim’s squad as much as possible in his first summer transfer window, and adding a top-level No 6 has been central to the club’s plans.
Baleba heads their list of targets, having impressed greatly during his two campaigns in the Premier League. He also has seven caps for the Cameroon national team.
Competition in 2026 is set to be fierce, so United are studying the parameters of a deal now, in case it is viable and Brighton’s resolve can be put to the test.
Equally, United will hope Brighton consider whether now might be the best time to cash in, given the inherent insecurities of football.
Baleba — whose contract runs until 2028 with an option to extend by a further 12 months — is keen on the possibility of a switch to United, and personal terms would not be a problem.
A number of United players have been in contact with Baleba about a transfer to Old Trafford, explaining the current landscape and ambitions.
The cost of any transaction would be a significant hurdle to overcome, though, and for this reason, some at United remain sceptical about the chances of an agreement being reached.
In 2023, Brighton sold Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for £100million rising to £115m, and Baleba is regarded in a similar category.
Another point of reference may be Joao Pedro, who Brighton recently traded to Chelsea for £60m. Pedro was omitted for the final two games of last season after a training ground altercation with Jan Paul van Hecke.
United are not expected to submit a bid for Baleba unless they believe there is a chance of success, with indirect conversations ongoing. Their signings so far have come in at the £60million to £70m range.
United do need sales to balance the books after committing to more than £200m on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund are available and could raise significant funds.
Giving United a degree of flexibility on cash is an extension to their revolving credit facility, plus sell-on clauses being realised for Anthony Elanga and Alvaro Carreras primarily, as well as Marcus Rashford’s salary being off the wage bill.
Furthermore, United included a significant sell-on clause in the deal agreed with Marseille for Mason Greenwood, who has attracted interest this window.
Should United need, they can make sales in January and up to June 30 next summer to comply with PSR regulations for 2025-26.
Manchester United
What happened this week?
United sealed the transfer of Sesko, agreeing a fee with Leipzig of €76.5m plus €8.5m in add-ons. Sesko flew in on Thursday, completed his medical on Friday, signed his paperwork on Saturday and was presented to United fans on the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of the Fiorentina game.
Rasmus Hojlund was left as an unused substitute for United’s final pre-season friendly, with Mason Mount preferred up front instead. Afterwards, Ruben Amorim said: “In some moments, I felt that we struggle without a reference as a striker. We have a new player, so we’ll see.”
Amorim declining to use Hojlund in the match, then neglecting to mention him afterwards, is a sign of the club’s intentions to sell him.
With Sesko in, will transfer business slow down?
That would be the logical assessment. But United are taking a bold approach to this window, the first under INEOS rule, when the structure is established above a head coach of their choosing. Activity might even speed up.
Amorim’s desire to reshape his squad is clear, which is why United are exploring an ambitious move for Carlos Baleba. Talks continue on Brighton’s willingness, or not, to entertain a sale. Amorim wants a dynamic No 6, who can stop attacks and link defence with the frontline.
Going the other way, bringing in money for Garnacho is a priority, and progress is being made on talks with Chelsea. Clubs such as Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Leipzig and Newcastle are taking a look at Hojlund, who at present insists he wants to stay and fight for his place.
What positions/players are they still looking at?
United remain in the market for a midfielder, with the pursuit of Baleba explained above. Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants United to be capable of making a major impression this campaign, and signing a player of Baleba’s quality would be expected to significantly aid those aims.
The goalkeeper position carries some intrigue, with United continuing to be linked with a new No 1. Donnarumma is the latest name, and he appears to be heading for the exit at PSG after they this week signed Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.
At 23, Chevalier is three years younger than Donnarumma, who has not agreed to a new contract. His current terms expire in 2026. United’s stance on goalkeepers — since Aston Villa rejected their loan offer for Emiliano Martinez — is that a signing could only happen if Andre Onana departs, and there are no signs of that at present. Onana is hoping to be fit for the opening game of the Premier League against Arsenal on Sunday. A move for Donnarumma is not expected to materialise.
Which players could be leaving?
As well as Garnacho and Hojlund, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia.
Harry Amass, who was left out of United’s tour to the U.S. is attracting loan interest from several clubs from the Championship and Europe, with around 15 suitors in touch. Game time will be the main factor in selecting his club.
Hard to compete with that sort of spending.
Sacking the tea ladies and the receptionists has given them surprising PSR freedom
The pyjama boys merchandise purchases are keeping the club afloat
I was listening to the Talk of The Devils podcast this morning. The transfer strategy has changed from previous years. United are making sure that the players are keen to join before making a bid. It puts the selling club in a situation where the have a player that doesn’t want to be there. When they went after De Jong, the clubs had agreed a fee but the player didn’t want to leave. Chelsea are doing to same with Garnacho.
The understanding all along was that it would have needed to be sales first before they could buy but it would seem that they have extended the revolving credit facility (which was capped at 300m). Won’t know by how much for another few months. Ratcliffe was given license to make changes and one of them was to reduce the workforce by about 40% to make the club profitable and remain compliant. United need to abide by the Premier League and the Uefa financial fair play rules even though they’re not in Europe this season. As its a rolling cycle if they got back into Europe for 26/27 they can’t afford to make massive losses this season coming and hope to make it up later. Newcastle are backed by the Saudi PIF but the owners can’t just throw money at them. It all comes down to PSR and revenue generated.
It’s now or never for Jim, he’s not getting any younger he’s trying to make a statement by getting Baleba now if the payment structure is right.
They’re leaving no stone unturned by installing “smart urinals” in the new Carrington facility which will tell you if you’re dehydrated.
I’d say they’ll explode when Luke Shaw takes a piss.
“Sir, he appears to be pissing bread crumbs.”