The £85m star is now set to sign for Man Utd

It’s no secret that Manchester United put most of their focus in the summer transfer window on getting more reinforcements in the midfield department.

Casemiro’s initial announcement of his departure in the summer has given the management more time to hunt down their preferred transfer targets.

Ederson’s £40m deal for Atalanta still awaits official confirmation before the move can be finalised, but the Red Devils are still hoping to make a number of further additions to the heart of the club.

Elliot Anderson’s dreams now look unlikely to move to Old Trafford amid his £120m fee, with rivals Manchester City now expected to wrap up the England star’s contract.

It now begs the question of who Michael Carrick and the recruitment team will turn to in an attempt to find the quality needed to move up the Premier League table again in 2026/27.

The £85m star now wants to join Man Utd this summer

United have already shown their intention to spend big during the current transfer window, but it is important that the management find the right player to take the club forward.

Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali has been linked with a target for the Red Devils after the Magpies missed out on securing European football next season.

Like Anderson, City are said to be keen on securing a deal for the Italian, with at least £80m required to land the 26-year-old in the coming months.

He is not the only player currently under consideration at Old Trafford, with West Ham United star Mateus Fernandes undoubtedly the club’s top transfer target.

According to Theater of Red, the player is said to be very keen to join Carrick’s boys this summer after being relegated to the Championship.

The report claims that Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the 21-year-old currently, but the player himself would like to join the Red Devils soon. Negotiations are still ongoing regarding the agreement.

However, any deal would cost United less money during the current transfer window, with the Hammers said to want at least £85m to offload the Portugal international.

Why Fernandes will be United’s next Mbeumo

Spending big on proven Premier League talent has been unprecedented for United in recent years, as seen with the £71m deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford last summer.

The Cameroonian has been one of the club’s most sought-after players over the past 12 months, and the deal to sign him has been an excellent piece of business for the Red Devils.

He scored 11 goals in his 33 top-flight appearances in 2025/26, after which he ended the campaign as joint top scorer with Benjamin Sesko.

The 26-year-old has cemented his place as a regular starter and has no doubt played a major role in helping the club finish in the last three campaigns.

This summer now presents a great opportunity for officials to acquire additional talent to help Carrick take the club to the next level in 2026/27 and beyond.

Fernandes’ departure would give United the quality they need at the heart of the squad to improve, while also imitating Mbeumo in any move to Old Trafford.

The Portuguese-born player will be the next on the list of many players to move to Manchester after attracting the attention of a team that has not been doing well in the Premier League.

In his most recent campaign in England’s top flight, Fernandes managed 3.1 per 90 – putting him in the top 14% of all European players.

The aforementioned figure highlights his incredible ability to win balls, something the Red Devils will be sorely lacking after Casemiro’s departure on a free transfer.

However, with the ball at his feet, the Hammers star again caught the eye last season, as evidenced by his incredible 0.8 dribbles per 90 Premier League figures.

The 21-year-old’s passing is another key aspect of his game, with only five players in England’s top flight able to complete more than 90 long balls in 2025/26.

A figure like this also puts him in the top 5% of deep-lying midfielders in England, which could give Mbeumo more opportunities in the next final third campaign.

There’s no denying that Fernandes is still an excellent midfield option, and his desire to move to Old Trafford will figure well in the club’s hunt for his signature.

The current fee of £85m could be a stumbling block, but it is important that the management continue their talks with West Ham to try to reduce the potential transfer.

However, if he can emulate Mbeumo’s success in Manchester, the deal could be worth every penny, and could be what sets the club up for Premier League success in the near future.