Manchester United started the transfer window quickly, bringing in Andrey Santos, Karl Darlow, and Youri Tielemans within a week of each other, as they looked to rebuild their squad.

The club finished third in the Premier League last season, meaning they’ll return to the Champions League for the first time since 2023, when they were eliminated from the group stages under Erik Ten Hag’s watch.

But since then, the transfer window has slowed right down at Old Trafford, and other than young winger Tynan Thompson, there have been no more arrivals so far, with the Premier League campaign set to begin next week.

Reports all summer have suggested that Man Utd are keen to bring in a new forward, third central midfielder, and a left-back, but despite numerous reports and links, nothing has materialised.

Now, while speaking to the media while in Dublin, Carrick has sent a strong message to INEOS over what he wants in the final weeks of the window.

“Listen, there’s one or two areas where we’d like to improve, and we feel that there’s the possibility to improve, but again, that needs to be something that we can do that makes us better and improves the group, whether that’s quality or whether that’s a little bit of depth. That’s something we’ve got to manage. That’s pretty obvious.

“We always want to strengthen in every way. It depends on if it’s going to help us, and in what ways. It can’t be for the sake of it, but of course we need to improve. It’s something that we’re working towards, for sure.”

Baleba and Hall Deals Must Be Done

via Reuters

It’s well established now that Lewis Hall is the top target of Man Utd for the left-back position, but so far it has been difficult for the club to find an agreement with Newcastle after they had already sold Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimaraes.

The player himself is understood to want to join Man Utd, and it has been reported over the summer that a fee of around £70m would likely be enough to get a deal done. It’s unclear if the club would be willing to pay that much, but if INEOS really want Carrick to succeed, then it’s clear they should be doing everything they can to get it done.

Alongside him, club staff are reported to believe that Carlos Baleba would be a ‘transformative’ signing for their midfield, yet despite reports that he is available for around £65m this summer, as opposed to the £100m asking price last summer, they are still yet to make a move.

With midfield quite obviously a priority, not making a big move for someone who you consider to be a top player seems backwards.

Carrick has made it abundantly clear that he needs more if he is to find success again, and if INEOS don’t give him what he needs, then they will only have themselves to blame.

West Ham United have agreed a £22m deal with Celtic to sign top target Arne Engels this summer.

The Hammers have been in hot pursuit of a new midfield star to bolster their squad as they prepare for life in the Championship, having lost top stars such as Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes, as well as hot prospect Freddie Potts during the transfer window.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has been backed in the market with the arrivals of Manor Solomon and Joel Veltman, but the Irons have been working hard to make further additions after convincing captain Jarrod Bowen to stay in the second tier, and they have now secured an agreement for one of their top targets.

According to reliable insider ExWHUEmployee, West Ham have now agreed a deal with Celtic to sign Engels.

The club has had two bids rejected earlier in the window, but it was reported that they were preparing a third offer which they were hopeful would be accepted, with the Glasgow side beginning to make signings that could make space for a deal.

It’s now understood that a deal worth £22m has been agreed between the two clubs, and Engels, who has been described as ‘powerful’, will now formalise personal terms before undergoing a medical.

“It appears West Ham may have just agreed the deal for Arne Engels, according to well-placed Celtic sources that we have,” he said.

“Negotiations have been going on for some time now after we exclusively revealed the interest in June. It should hopefully now reach a conclusion in the coming days as personal terms were not thought to be a problem.

“The club have followed the strategy, as I have been explaining all window, of waiting for targets that they actually want rather than moving around. This has led to some frustration from fans but should hopefully bring in the players that have always been the key targets. A strategy that has been different from before but should ensure we get quality recruits.

“Once this deal is done, the club will turn its attention fully to other targets, as this has been the key one for a while.

“The deal is thought to be for around £22m, and the Belgium international will finalise personal terms and start the medical procedure soon.”

O’Neill Praises Engels for Attitude and Quality

Engels was a target for Nottingham Forest and others in the January transfer window, with a £25m bid rejected on deadline day. But despite being keen on the move, Engels knuckled down and helped the club overcome a difficult campaign to lift the Scottish Premiership title on the final day.

Speaking after those bids were rejected, O’Neill praised the Belgium international, and admitted he didn’t realise how much Celtic missed him until he was unavailable due to injury.

“He never made an issue,” O’Neill said. “It was what it was. The last offer we got, I didn’t realise until [chief executive officer] Michael Nicholson told me, was three hours before the deadline.

He’s a strong runner,” O’Neill continued. “He had scored a goal against Hibs when he dived in and headed it. If he wants to be something, he’ll add a few more goals during the course of a season. A goal-scoring midfield player is worth their weight in gold.”

Newcastle United are eyeing four more signings before the end of this transfer window, while they’re close to a ‘breakthrough’ on one specific deal, according to the i Paper.

The Magpies have endured a turbulent off-season, losing manager Eddie Howe alongside a host of important players. Sandro Tonali joined Tottenham Hotspur for £100m, Bruno Guimaraes has left for Arsenal, and Anthony Gordon has signed for Barcelona.

Matthias Jaissle has arrived from Al-Ahli as Howe’s replacement, inheriting a broken squad in need of a rebuild.

Signing young players with potential has been the focus so far this summer for the Tynesiders, but it’s now understood that a handful more experienced options are expected to join the north-east club in the remaining weeks of the window.

Amar Dedic Could Be Newcastle’s ‘Breakthrough’ Transfer

The i Paper report that Newcastle want to sign two full-backs, a Guimaraes replacement and a forward to compete with Yoane Wissa and Will Osula before the window closes at the beginning of September.

The expectation is said to be that at least three will join, with their fourth potential addition deemed a bonus that they might be able to get over the line.

The publication also suggests that the word on the ground is that a breakthrough on at least one of these prospective deals is close, and that news could emerge on this front over the weekend when Newcastle face Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg in two separate friendlies.

It’s believed that the ‘breakthrough’ transfer in question could be Benfica’s Amar Dedic.

Newcastle are understood to be advancing in a deal to sign Dedic, who is open to a move to St. James’ Park.

The right-back made 43 appearances for the Portuguese giants last season, scoring once and providing four assists across all competitions.

The Bosnian worked with Jaissle at RB Salzburg back in the 2022/23 season, and the German coach is said to be keen on reuniting with the full-back, who would provide Tino Livramento with cover and competition.

Newcastle clearly have money to spend after sanctioning so many lucrative departures this summer. The i Paper indicate that there is up to £150 million of headroom, even with UEFA’s strict financial rules.

If a deal for Dedic is secured by the beginning of next week, expect more concrete movements on a replacement for Guimaraes, and perhaps a move for a left-back as cover for Lewis Hall, who is wanted by Manchester United.

Newcastle kick off their Premier League campaign when they host Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool at St. James Park a week on Sunday.

All Statistics via FotMob – correct as of 14/08/2026