Manchester United have enjoyed a proactive start to the summer transfer window, but will not rush into purchasing a third and final midfielder before the market closes.

The Red Devils are conducting a dramatic revamp in the centre of the park following the departure of veteran Casemiro. Michael Carrick has already seen Andrey Santos arrive from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans snapped up from rivals Aston Villa.

Man Utd splurged around £100million on those two additions but are known to be in the market for one more marquee signing in midfield for the 2026/27 campaign. Several names have been touted, with one Premier League star reportedly desperate to make the move to Old Trafford.

Carlos Baleba ‘very keen’ on Man Utd move

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Brighton star Carlos Baleba has long been linked with a move to Man Utd. The Red Devils nearly signed the 22-year-old last summer, but were put off by the Seagulls’ lofty £100million valuation.

After an underwhelming campaign at the Amex Stadium, TEAMtalk report that the Brighton valuation has dropped to £70million, which could prove a more tempting offer for United.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also provided the latest on the speculation. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano claimed that Baleba is ‘super keen’ on a move to the Theatre of Dreams with negotiating power in the hands of United.

He said: “Baleba is also a player who would be super keen on joining Manchester United.

“Already one year ago, Baleba wanted to go to Man Utd, but on this one, it’s on Man Utd to decide if they want to return in talks with Brighton or not.

“So, that’s the status around these players. That’s the status around these midfielders.”

Man Utd frustrate Roma with transfer hesitancy

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With the confidence that the club is Baleba’s number one choice of destination, Man Utd will not rush for a move. The club are also considering a swoop for AS Roma star Manu Kone.

The French international could be available for £50million, which would provide a £20million saving on Baleba. Kone is believed to have reached an agreement in principle on personal terms with Man Utd, putting the Premier League side in a comfortable position once again.

The Red Devils’ lack of urgency is said to be frustrating Roma. The Corriere dello Sport claims that the Serie A giants are still waiting for an offer and are frustrated by the pace at which negotiations are proceeding.

Roma are not expected to offer Man Utd an ultimatum yet. Romano labelled that deal an ‘open story’ in his latest update.

Real Madrid are said to be ramping up their efforts to sign a player Arsenal have enquired about this summer. The Gunners are not hiding their pursuit of a left-winger this summer, with Mikel Arteta desperate to finally address the left side of his attack, which has been the weakest side for some time, even if Leandro Trossard did play an important role there last season.

Arsenal are willing to spend big money on a new left winger, but they must also balance their search with their pursuit of a new number 8, with Arteta keen to add to his midfield. But top players are not easy to sign, and that has so far proved the case for the Gunners this summer, with Chelsea snatching Morgan Rogers from their grasp, and the search goes on.

Arsenal have reached out to Yan Diomande

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Speaking last week, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported that Arsenal had reached out to winger Yan Diomande over a potential move for the RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast star. Romano said: “Then talking about the wingers’ market, we have to see how Arsenal will react – wingers and strikers – because this depends on opportunities. For example, just to give you some context, Arsenal over the last few days made some checks with the agents of Yan Diomande from Red Bull Leipzig to understand if there was still a chance to enter the deal.

“But don’t forget Diomande has an agreement on personal terms with Paris Saint-Germain, and Paris Saint-Germain are in negotiations with Leipzig. But, for example, Arsenal made some calls to understand the situation of Diomande, just to give you context of what happened over the recent days.”

Diomande’s profile raised even further during the World Cup, when he impressed with Ivory Coast, and many expect the 19-year-old to be the next winger superstar, already climbing towards the top level at his young age.

Leipzig chief Marcel Schafer has said of the winger: “He’s a left winger with outstanding pace, strong dribbling, athleticism and a real eye for goal. On top of that, he never gives up on a ball and plays with great team spirit.”

Real Madrid make their move for Diomande

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While DIomande is said to have agreed to join PSG, Real Madrid are now said to be making a move, with David Ornstein reporting on X: “EXCL: Real Madrid enter race to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. #RMFC in club-to-club talks with #RBLeipzig over winger. Paris Saint-Germain retain interest + 19yo chose #PSG as next destination but not yet at level of finance required.”

Romano followed that update up with another claim of Arsenal interest, but Diomande is not keen to make the move to the Premier League. “Manchester City and Arsenal made calls for Yan Diomande over last 10 days but player’s not opening doors,” Romano posted. “No bids from PL + only club going all in to face PSG is Real Madrid with first €90m plus €10m bid rejected by RB Leipzig.”

Arsenal look to be out of the race, but they are said to be interested in Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr, so Los Blancos signing Diomande could help.

Arsenal returned to Sobha Realty for pre-season training on Monday, although Mikel Arteta will have a depleted squad to work with over the next few weeks, with many players yet to make their way back due to their involvement at the World Cup.

The Gunners may have ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title last season, but Arteta and Andrea Berta aren’t prepared to rest on their laurels. The North London club’s hierarchy want to build a dynasty at the Emirates Stadium over the coming years, as many of their closest rivals deal with periods of transition.

Bruno Guimaraes is being targeted by Berta, while Arsenal are also intent on bolstering their attack this summer, with Julian Alvarez and Barcely Barcola linked with a switch to N5.

There is a need to make these signings quickly, with Arteta’s squad set to be short on options in the opening few weeks of the campaign. 15 of the Spaniard’s ensemble were competing in North America over the summer, and all of these players are now set to receive extended rests, with their planned returns to training scattered across multiple weeks.

FIFA rules stipulate that players must be given a minimum of three consecutive weeks off between seasons, although reports suggest Arsenal might extend this break to four weeks to allow their overburdened stars to properly recover from an exhaustive last 12 months.

Who is already in Arsenal pre-season training?

Arsenal were one of the most represented clubs at the World Cup this summer, and a symptom of this is that Arteta is likely to field a somewhat unrecognisable starting XI in the Gunners’ first few matches of pre-season.

Everyone who wasn’t called up by their nations for the World Cup, or plays for a country that didn’t qualify, returned to full training on Monday.

Illan Meslier signed from Leeds earlier this summer, and he joined the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Tommy Setford in goalkeeper sessions this week. At the back, Jurrien Timber and Ben White returned to work on their respective recoveries from injury, although it’s not clear how involved either right-back was in Arteta’s wider group sessions.

Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup, so Riccardo Calafiori has enjoyed a summer off and is now ready to get going again for the Gunners. Cristhian Mosquera didn’t make Luis de la Fuente’s tournament-winning squad, but is back and available for the Gunners from the outset.

Elsewhere, Myles Lewis-Skelly is back at Sohba Realty already after failing to make the cut with England. He’s been joined by fellow Hale End academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman, as well as Reiss Nelson, who has returned from his loan at Brentford.

Christian Norgaard, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus, all of whom could leave Arsenal this summer, also returned on Monday, for what could be their final few weeks at London Colney.

When will each World Cup player return to Arsenal training?

Stephane Mahe via Reuters

Going off the assumption that each player who featured at the World Cup for Arsenal will get four weeks off, the players who returned on Monday are likely to be the only ones available to Arteta for the Gunners’ game against Girona on August 1.

That said, they may have one more to add to the group who could easily play against the Spanish side. Christos Tzolis has signed for Arsenal from Club Brugge, and he could be immediately thrown into the fold, as the Greek has already been back at training for several weeks.

Every Arsenal player at the World Cup reached the knockout stages, although three fell at the first hurdle once the group stage was over. Kai Havertz was knocked out with Germany on June 29, meaning his return could be pencilled in for Monday July 27.

Both Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie crashed out of the tournament a day later, meaning both could be back in training by Tuesday, July 28.

Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli went a step further, reaching the last 16 of the competition in North America. They left the United States on July 5 when Brazil lost to Norway, meaning both could return on Monday, August 3. If Guimaraes is acquired, this would naturally be the point where he also makes his first appearance in Arsenal training.

Martin Odegaard could follow the Brazilians through the door at Sobha Realty exactly a week later, four weeks after Norway’s game against England. This would give the playmaker the chance to be fit for the Community Shield match against Manchester City, which takes place on Sunday, August 16.

The next wave of Arsenal players could report back on Monday, August 17, following a four-week break after the conclusion of the World Cup. That timeframe would apply to those whose teams reached the semi-finals, with David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke all likely to fall into this category. With the Premier League commencing just four days after this, the quintet will have limited time to build match fitness before the season’s curtain-raiser. This would also pertain to the likes of Alvarez and Barcola, if the Gunners complete moves for either of these World Cup stars.

The situation is different for William Saliba, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. Arsenal are expected to take a more cautious approach with all three, who are each managing injury issues and require an extended recovery period before returning to training.

The club is still waiting to determine the full extent of Saliba’s back problem, while Rice and Saka are anticipated to remain on leave until after the first international break. If that plan is followed, the England internationals would not be back in contention until the middle or latter stages of September.

Ultimately, Arteta is going to have to cope with a tumultuous and chaotic pre-season, with players arriving at different times and several of them set to miss multiple matches, in the season proper as well as the preparation fixtures.