Manchester United have big transfer plans for 2026, but what can we expect to see from them in the last few days of this window?
The Red Devils have had a quiet January, but there is good news there as some big names remain on the table, while we also take a look at who has already been targeted for the summer.
The transfer deadline isn’t until 7pm on Monday 2 February, so there’s still time for clubs to do some last-minute business, although for now it looks like it will remain a quiet window for United.
Manchester United are considering a move for the midfielder ahead of the summer
United’s main focus right now is on midfielders, and that was the case before Casemiro’s departure at the end of the season was announced by the club and the player last week.
We understand that Casemiro was offered the chance to stay if he took a big pay cut, but that didn’t happen, and the experienced Brazilian will need to be replaced.
Elliot Anderson is a dream for United, but they also have an eye on others as some sources consider Manchester City to be the early favorites to land the Nottingham Forest midfielder.
João Gomes
As reported here, Joao Gomes is another name on United’s radar after his impressive performances for Wolves. They made a big signing for Matheus Cunha from Molineux last summer, and this could be another opportunity for them, especially if Wolves are relegated, as seems likely.
Adam Wharton
Meanwhile, Adam Wharton looks like Anderson, another young English talent who is attracting a lot of attention, and Sky Sports recently claimed that MUFC are keen on him. Crystal Palace have recently sold big names like Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi, so it would make sense if bigger clubs fancy their chances with Wharton.
Felix Nmecha
Felix Nmecha has impressed at Borussia Dortmund and our understanding is that both United and Chelsea are big fans after monitoring him in recent times. The German will not come cheap, however, and it will be interesting to see if United instead focus on the likes of Anderson, Wharton and Gomes because they are already proven in the Premier League.
Who stays and who goes?
Casemiro may be moving on in the summer, and Manuel Ugarte may be too, but the good news for now is that Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo are staying.
BBC Sport recently reported that the Portuguese player will not want to leave Old Trafford this month. However, the report adds that he will reassess his situation in the summer, when he only has one year left on his contract.
Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo is no longer looking to move after his job was confirmed by new interim manager Michael Carrick. The England international was wanted by a number of clubs, but has started both games and played 90 minutes against Manchester City and Arsenal since Carrick took over.
That is a huge boost for the club as Mainoo has fallen out of favor under former manager Ruben Amorim and looks to be in serious danger of losing him, with Napoli showing a strong interest in the summer and before this January, and Chelsea also respecting him.
Harry Maguire will not leave this January but is attracting interest as his contract expires, with no talks yet to be held over a new deal and he is expected to continue as a free agent in the summer. Maguire’s situation has Chelsea on the lookout for surprises, as we recently reported.
Some Man United transfer news to watch
Marcus Rashford continues to impress during his loan spell at Barcelona, but it is not clear if he will stay there permanently.
The England international is said to have interest from Paris Saint-Germain if a move to Barca doesn’t work out, but a return to Man Utd seems unlikely for him.
Those PSG links come from Football Insider, and we know this is a story with a lot of history in it, as the Ligue 1 giants have spoken to him and praised him publicly, such as Fabrizio Romano X’s post from a few years ago…
PSG president Al Khelaifi on Rashford: “He’s amazing – to have Rashford for free, all the clubs will be running after him. We’re not hiding it, we’ve talked before”, he told Sky. ???????? #MUFC
“It’s possible [this] summer? Why not. If he is free, we can talk to him directly but not now”. pic.twitter.com/CGDDoHjb8M
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 8, 2022
Finally, a name to watch for United and a number of other top clubs is RB Leipzig’s talented young winger Yan Diomande.
We have previously reported United’s bid for Diomande, but this will be a complex and expensive deal that may have to wait until the summer.
If Diomande’s move doesn’t work, MUFC will probably look for the same players as they can by strengthening the attack after some controversial seasons from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, while Rashford, as already mentioned, will probably not return.
