As the summer transfer window heats up, all eyes are once again on Manchester United – a club whose recruitment strategy continues to provoke headlines, hope, and no shortage of scrutiny.
Once famed for shrewd, transformative signings under Sir Alex Ferguson, United in recent years have become a case study in market inconsistency: big spending often matched by underwhelming returns.
In this deep dive, we’ll examine the club’s current transfer activity, from high-priority targets and players being heavily linked, to those potentially heading for the exit.
We’ll also assess some of the most high-profile misfires of recent windows – deals that promised much but delivered little – and explore how these missteps have shaped United’s evolving transfer approach.
With a new era under scrutiny and expectations higher than ever, the question remains: can Manchester United finally get it right this summer?
Summer 2025: Confirmed signings
- Matheus Cunha joined from Wolves on June, 12 2025 for around £62.5million.
- Bryan Mbeumo moved from Brentford for £65m, officially signed on July 21, 2025.
- Promising Paraguayan defender Diego Leon arrived from Cerro Porteno for an initial £3m, with add‑ons, joining in mid‑July 2025.
- Teenage midfielder Harley Emsden‑James arrived from Southampton for about £1m.
Additionally, in January United signed Patrick Dorgu from Lecce for about £25m on a long‑term deal, though his inclusion has been mixed, including a red card early in his Premier League debut.
Transfer Targets & Rumours Still in Play
Striker Search:
- Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) is one of United’s top striker targets. Leipzig want over £70 m, but United are hoping to negotiate nearer £60m. Newcastle are also heavily interested.
- Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), valued at around £60m, is a club priority alternative – Villa have turned down United’s initial offer but negotiations continue.
- Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea) remains a speculative target, with United reportedly interested, though their focus stays on Sesko or Watkins.
Midfield and supporting cast:
- Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig) is also being monitored; known for creative energy, valued around £60.4m but he looks likely to join Chelsea.
- Other names linked include Corentin Tolisso (Lyon), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), and Ederson (Atalanta) for defensive midfield, though none have progressed to official negotiations yet.
Defensive and goalkeeping plans:
- With Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof having departing, United may seek reinforcements at centre-back and possibly a goalkeeper. Linked names for the latter position include Emiliano Martinez, Diogo Costa and Lucas Chevalier.
Departures and squad clearout
Recent transfer failures
Andre Onana, signed for £44 million in 2023: made costly errors in the 2024-25 season.
Since joining United in the summer of 2023, Onana has committed eight errors directly leading to goals in the Premier League and a total of nine in all competitions, the most of any current Premier League goalkeeper.
In the 2024‑25 season, only Arijanet Muric, Robert Sanchez, and Bart Verbruggen made more goal-leading errors than Onana.
His save percentage was generally poor: around 70%, placing him low among United keepers – Opta reported his clean sheet rate at just 26.1%, worse than any United keeper since 2003‑04 except Anders Lindegaard.
Casemiro, joined for £70m in 2022 and had a strong first season, but struggled badly in subsequent campaigns with costly mistakes early in 2024-25.
His time at Manchester United has been a tale of two different stories. When he joined from Real Madrid, many praised the signing as a major coup.
In his first season (2022–23), he brought leadership, defensive solidity, and experience, helping United win the Carabao Cup and secure a top-four finish.
He was even regarded by some as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League that year.
However, his decline in the 2023–24 season was dramatic.
Casemiro appeared slow, error-prone, and often out of sync with the pace and demands of the Premier League.
His positioning became questionable, he lost physical battles in midfield, and he made several costly mistakes – most notably in the humiliating 4–0 defeat by Crystal Palace and the 3-2 collapse against Galatasaray.
Injuries and fitness issues only added to his struggles, and he was often criticized for looking ‘past it’ despite still being only 32. His wages, reported to be over £300,000-a-week, have added to the frustration for fans and analysts alike, making him one of the most expensive disappointments in recent club memory.
Now in mid-2025, Casemiro is widely-viewed as a failed long-term investment. While his first year was positive, the sharp drop in form, lack of resale value, and the club’s growing need to move in a younger direction have left his legacy at United heavily tarnished.
Additional flops highlighted:
- Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho in 2021–22 formed arguably United’s worst transfer double of that era – with poor returns and high expectations (£73m for Sancho, Ronaldo also big signing).
- Donny van de Beek and Alex Telles (2020–21): together cost around £60m but contributed virtually nothing before exiting on loans or moves.
- Antony (signed for £82m): endured derisive reviews and limited impact, often labeled as most visible example of the ‘Manchester United tax’ phenomenon (paying over the odds).
- Wout Weghorst, brought in mid‑season loan in 2022‑23, made minimal impact in the Premier League.
Outlook
Manchester United are undergoing a major transitional rebuild under new manager Ruben Amorim, reshaping attacking options while clearing older or underperforming squad members.
The acquisitions of Cunha and Mbeumo underscore an intent to lean into youth and forward reinforcements.
However, the club remains in search of a goalkeeper, reliable control‑oriented midfielder, a true No 9 striker, and defensive solidity.
Past mistakes (notably the Antony and Sancho deals) have left the budget restrained – forcing both incoming and outgoing activity. As the summer window continues, the success of United’s restructuring will hinge on targeted investments in Sesko or Watkins, and the ability to convert outgoing sales into reinforcements that fit Amorim’s vision.
