£60m World Cup star wants to join Man Utd

You would have been hard-pressed to find anyone who would have predicted Manchester United’s first signings of the summer to be Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow, with things not going as expected in the window so far.

INEOS has credit to the bank following the success of 2025 in the recruitment sector, but there are still questions to be answered about this summer’s work.

Would United be wise not to pay eye-watering fees for the likes of Elliot Anderson, Mateus Fernandes or Morgan Rogers? Or, as has often been the case in the Glazer era, is this just another muted summer at a time when the club looks ready to move on?

That will all be decided in the coming weeks and months, as it is time for the Red Devils to start shifting their focus to the midfield.

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Talk continues to focus on the elusive ‘third midfielder’, but it would be a mistake to suggest that United do not have other areas to plan for in 2026/27.

Looking at the forward line, there is a lack of depth and proven quality, with Joshua Zirkzee and Amad scoring just four Premier League goals between them last week, while Patrick Dorgu has recently moved into an attacking role.

Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko have all enjoyed encouraging first campaigns, all reaching double figures in league goals, but all three have endured quiet periods, struggling for real consistency.

With Champions League football on the agenda next term, Michael Carrick’s side don’t look equipped and ready to compete in more competitions. Can anyone really count on the returning Marcus Rashford to fire again?

Another name that appeared as a possible entry was Crysencio Summerville of West Ham United, the Dutch player who recently scored and assisted four goals in only four World Cup matches played for the Netherlands.

He is an exciting, explosive talent, yet the 24-year-old managed just five points in the top flight last term, after scoring just one the previous year, ensuring he would represent something of a threat for the Red Devils.

Indeed, INEOS may need to set its sights a little higher in the coming weeks.

The £60m World Cup star now wants to join Man Utd

A £50m move for Summerville had been called off, although the former Leeds United man now looks set for a move to Saudi side Al Hilal for around £69m, as the Hammers look to cash in following their recent relegation.

Whether INEOS push ahead to sign another depends on Rashford’s status, and it remains to be seen whether this ‘merger’ talk is just a smoke screen to be sold later.

Whether the Englishman stays or leaves, new players are needed, FootMercato reports that Ismaila Sarr is on United’s target list.

Although the Senegal star could be said to be ‘frontrunner’ as things stand, talks have been held over a deal, with United looking at a number of options.

As for the player himself, the £60m hitman is said to be a lifelong fan of the club and would view a switch to Old Trafford as his ‘dream’ move, suggesting he would like to join.

At 28, Sarr would not have signed for INEOS for a long time, in the form of Tielemans, yet it is hard to argue with what he is offering here and now.

Most recently, when Senegal bowed out against Belgium in the round of 32, the Crystal Palace man was dominant in the opening weeks of the tournament, scoring four goals in just four games, as well as registering one assist.

That follows a fine year at Selhurst Park, where Sarr emerged as the main man under Oliver Glasner as the Eagles rose to Conference League glory, scoring nine points in just 13 games in the competition.

In total, he finished 2025/26 with 21 club goals in all competitions, nine of which came in the Premier League, ensuring he has now scored 17 league goals since the start of 2024/25.

As noted, Summerville’s record at the time stood at only six goals in the league, yet to appear in the top division in England.

In 116 Premier League games, the former Watford midfielder has scored 43 goals and assists, while in 84 games in the Summerville competition, he boasts only 18 goals and assists.

Of course, Sarr is four years his senior, although it’s not like Summerville is a young 24-year-old, and United may have been gambling on talent rather than anything proven.

It is a different matter regarding Sarr, however, while his ability to play on the flank or as a number nine is also a significant bonus, especially as Carrick’s preferred front line is still to be decided.

Also, at a time when the aforementioned Roger is heading to Chelsea in a £117m deal, this may not be quite the marquee move, but considering his form over the last 12 months or so, Sarr could be a truly inspired, and surprising, signing.