Manchester United's Summer Rebuild: Key Signings and Targets

Manchester United’s summer rebuild is gathering pace, but the message from inside the club is clear: they are nowhere near finished yet.

Four signings are already through the door. Three more are being chased. And the profile of those targets tells you exactly where Michael Carrick and the INEOS hierarchy believe this squad is still short.

Midfield rebuild – one piece missing

United have moved aggressively in the middle of the pitch. Andrey Santos has arrived from Chelsea for £50m, Youri Tielemans has been lifted from Aston Villa via a £35m release clause, and the pair are expected to reshape the heart of Carrick’s team.

Santos brings legs and bite, Tielemans brings range and rhythm. Between them, United have effectively spent the same £85m that Tottenham Hotspur laid out on Mateus Fernandes, the midfielder they missed out on. It is a bold response to earlier setbacks.

Those setbacks were real. Elliot Anderson and Fernandes were early targets, but both deals slipped away. United pivoted to Ederson at Atalanta, only for the Brazilian to fail a medical. That collapse forced a rethink and pushed Santos and Tielemans to the front of the queue.

Yet The Athletic’s latest Dealsheet makes one thing plain: the job in midfield is not done. United are prioritising a third central midfielder, a “combative player capable of covering large distances” to complete the rebuild.

They are admirers of Alex Scott, whose development at Bournemouth has turned heads across the league. United love the player. Bournemouth, though, have drawn a hard line. Scott has already turned down a new contract, but the south-coast club will not sell this summer.

So attention has shifted. Roma’s Manu Kone has emerged as a key target, with United opening formal talks to explore a possible deal. Kone fits the brief: aggressive, mobile, and able to stitch together transitions in both directions. If United get that signing right, Carrick’s midfield could suddenly look deep, balanced and far more modern.

Striker search: Sesko needs help

Midfield is not the only department under the microscope. United are also in the market for a centre-forward, a move that underlines the pressure on Benjamin Sesko before a ball has even been kicked.

Sesko is still working his way back to full fitness after a shin injury and did not travel with the squad to Finland. The plan is for him to lead the line long term, but the club know they cannot gamble an entire season on a young striker returning from injury and adapting instantly.

Joshua Zirkzee is currently his understudy, yet his own future looks elsewhere. The Dutchman has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford and is expected to head back to Italy this summer. That leaves a clear vacancy: an experienced, reliable No 9 who can share the burden and set the standard.

The dream name is no secret. CaughtOffside reported on May 30 that Victor Osimhen is viewed as the ideal solution, the “dream” target to give Carrick an elite centre-forward. His numbers at Galatasaray speak for themselves, his movement and ferocity tailor‑made for a side that wants to play on the front foot.

The problem is the price. Galatasaray want €150m (£128m) to sell. That figure would rip a hole in any budget, even under new ownership.

United have cast the net wide. At one stage, interest stretched to Robert Lewandowski, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eli Junior Kroupi and Dusan Vlahovic. That list has already begun to shrink. Lewandowski is off the table after joining MLS side Chicago Fire, removing one of the most experienced options.

On June 26, journalist Ben Jacobs added two more familiar names to the conversation: Danny Welbeck and Ivan Toney. Both are being considered by INEOS as short- to medium-term solutions who could support Sesko and stabilise the attack. Welbeck knows the club, Toney knows the league and penalty spots better than almost anyone. Either would arrive with the responsibility of easing the load on Sesko’s shoulders.

Left side reshuffle and defensive priorities

While a new centre-half has been discussed, that pursuit has slipped down the agenda. The same goes for a new left winger. Those positions have not disappeared from the long-term plan, but they are no longer at the front of the queue.

One key reason is Marcus Rashford. United intend to bring him back into the first-team fold for pre-season, and unless a serious bid lands on the table, Carrick is ready to hand him the left-wing berth again. It is a challenge as much as a show of faith: reclaim that flank, or someone else will.

Left-back is a different story. Inside the club, there is a growing acceptance that this is an area that cannot be ignored any longer. Luke Shaw remains first choice, but his injury record and the demands of a season featuring both Premier League and Champions League football have sharpened minds.

United officials believe the squad is more vulnerable at left-back than at centre-back. They cannot afford to be caught short if Shaw struggles to cope with the workload across two major competitions. That is why a new left-back is seen as more urgent than another centre-half, even if the latter might feel more glamorous.

A decisive window for Carrick and INEOS

Four signings are already in place: Santos, Tielemans, Karl Darlow as backup to first-choice goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and 18-year-old winger Tynan Thompson to future‑proof the attack. Three more are being chased: a combative midfielder, a centre-forward, and a left-back.

Each target speaks to a clear plan rather than a scattergun spree. Carrick wants energy and steel in midfield, protection and competition for Sesko up front, and security on the left side of defence. INEOS want value, structure and a squad that can carry the strain of domestic and European campaigns.

United have started their rebuild. The real question is whether they can land those final three pieces in time to turn a promising summer into a transformative one.