Summer Transfer Window 2026: Manchester United and Tottenham Miss the Mark

The Premier League clubs showed no hesitation in spending big during this summer's transfer window. Yet, some of the heaviest spenders are already facing doubts about whether their investments will pay off as the season starts.

Major Signings and Early Season Results

This summer saw Manchester United finally begin rebuilding their midfield. Despite high hopes, the new additions have yet to make a significant impact. Youri Tielemans, arriving from Aston Villa, has struggled to meet expectations. Meanwhile, Carlos Baleba remains sidelined with an ankle injury, delaying his debut. Another midfielder, Andrey Santos, signed from Chelsea as a long-term replacement for Casemiro, has had a disappointing start. In just two starts against Hull City and Brighton & Hove Albion, his performance was poor, and he has only clocked 42 minutes across other appearances.

United’s midfield overhaul still has time to gel, but their slow start is concerning.

Tottenham’s Troubles Deepen

Tottenham Hotspur currently sit at the bottom after five games, with two draws and three losses. Despite spending over €200 million on midfielders Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, both have failed to show the form expected to push Spurs into the top four as some experts predicted. Manager Roberto De Zerbi is yet to unlock their potential, and improvement is urgently needed.

Defender Jan Paul van Hecke has also struggled. His defensive awareness has been lacking, and Spurs might regret trading away Luka Vuskovic to secure him.

Brighton’s Smart Moves Highlight Spurs’ Mistakes

Brighton & Hove Albion capitalized on Tottenham’s missteps by signing Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic. Though he never played first-team football for Spurs, Vuskovic impressed during a loan spell at Hamburg. Since joining Brighton, he has been a regular starter and helped the team rise to third place in the Premier League. His versatility across systems underlines Brighton’s sharp transfer strategy.

Brentford’s Eye for Talent Pays Off

Brentford continue to find promising players who can develop and be sold for profit. This summer they added Mamadou Sangare from Lens in Ligue 1. The Malian midfielder stood out with his energetic performances, notably outpacing Tottenham’s new midfield during the opening weekend. He has maintained strong form since.

Given Sangare’s early displays, it’s fair to say Manchester United may have missed a valuable opportunity by not pursuing him.

Other Noteworthy Signings

• James Trafford (Leeds United): Has conceded only three goals in five league matches, providing solid goalkeeping.
• Jeremy Jacquet (Liverpool): Added much-needed stability to Liverpool’s defense following last season’s struggles.