Manchester United are ramping up their summer transfer activity, as the club look to equip Michael Carrick with more quality options in his squad.

The midfield is an area of particular focus, with Ederson set to join from Atalanta, while several other stars are being considered for the central ranks to help bring some ball-playing quality to the team.

Premier League quality appears to be the main consideration, with players who have shown they are capable of performing at the top level.

While Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, and Elliot Anderson have all been linked with a switch to Old Trafford, it could be another midfield ace who makes their way to Man United, if reports are to be believed.

Mateus Fernandes To Man United Latest

Among the whole plethora of midfielders available to Man United this summer, links surrounding a move for Mateus Fernandes have persisted.

The Portuguese star impressed during spells for Southampton and West Ham, and with the latter’s recent relegation from the Premier League, the Red Devils are among a whole host of teams eyeing a potential deal.

Reports have suggested that a move could be close, even with the Hammers placing an £80 million price tag on Fernandes in the summer transfer market.

Amid those reports, journalist Shaun Connolly has claimed that talks are ongoing between all parties, with the player’s agents described as “confident” that a deal will go through.

It would represent a second move in the midfield department for Man United and Carrick, getting a problem position whipped into shape early in the market.

It remains to be seen whether a deal can be struck for below the quoted price, however, which may allow the club to look elsewhere in the window for other positions.

With the increase in games due to Champions League qualification, it’s clear that the Old Trafford outfit will need even more reinforcements.

What Man United Need To Do Next

If Man United do indeed land both Ederson and Fernandes in the coming weeks, then attention can quickly turn towards the next moves in the market.

A left-back has to be the next priority, offering some much-needed competition to Luke Shaw in that position, especially following Tyrell Malacia’s recent exit.

Beyond that, the club may then look at some sales to raise funds further, with the likes of Manuel Ugarte, Marcus Rashford, Andre Onana, and Altay Bayindir all needing to clarify their futures.

Money raised from that can then be invested in other areas, with perhaps another midfielder on the cards, or even a versatile forward who can challenge the existing options.

It’s shaping up to be a promising summer transfer window for the club, with early business indicating that plans are being put into place and executed quickly.

A sporting director has just spoken out to confirm that he wants to sign a Liverpool star in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool are entering a new era after it was confirmed that Andoni Iraola has been appointed as their manager.

The hierarchy will likely look to back him in the transfer market, but the reality is that some players may have to leave the club after they spent significantly last summer.

Liverpool are already losing Ibrahima Konate, Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson this summer, with all three departing on free transfers.

As a result, the Merseyside club may need to fetch in transfer fees by selling some of their other stars in order to allow them to continue investing in the playing squad.

Sporting Director Confirms Interest in Liverpool Star

Inter Milan’s sporting director Piero Ausilio has confirmed that the Italian club are interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones in the summer transfer window.

Inter have been heavily linked with a move to sign Jones this summer, with suggestions of a swap deal even mentioned.

Jones has struggled to cement himself as a guaranteed starter for Liverpool, but it will be interesting to see whether he’s more suited to new manager Iraola.

Either way, it seems that a departure is possible in the coming weeks and months.

Federico Chiesa Confirms Jones News

Speaking earlier this week, another Liverpool player, Federico Chiesa, has confirmed that Jones has been asking him about life in Italy.

That certainly has added more fuel to the fire that Jones could be heading to Inter Milan, with Chiesa even mentioning the Italian club.

It’s rare that players speak out about potential exits for their teammates, but Chiesa himself has been linked with a departure heading into the summer transfer window.

Arguably, the biggest deal of the 2026 transfer window so far was Anthony Gordon joining Barcelona from Newcastle United. The Spanish giants forked up £69m for the Englishman, so pressure will be high on him right from the off.

One fascinating aspect of the move is that Gordon may well end up replacing Marcus Rashford, who spent last season on loan at Barca. Not only that, but the two left-wingers will be vying for the same spot on the flank for England this summer at the World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel has a big decision to make on that front and opted to give each winger 45 minutes to impress against New Zealand in a friendly this weekend. Gordon’s highlights have since emerged, sparking a strong reaction online.

Gordon and Rashford Get 45 Minutes Each vs New Zealand

Truth be told, it was a pretty dull encounter between England and the All Whites. The Three Lions came away with a win thanks to Harry Kane’s header, netted right before the break. This was the only goal of the game, which finished 1-0.

Rashford was in the starting XI alongside Kane and managed five key passes in his 45-minute cameo. He also completed 18/22 passes, with 37 touches, pulling off one dribble, losing the ball 11 times, and taking two shots, with none on target.

As for Gordon, he completed 21/22 passes, but none were key. He had one fewer touch (36) and completed as many dribbles (one), losing the ball seven times, while also taking two shots, but getting one on target.

There wasn’t much to seperate the pair, with Rashford given a 7.2 SofaScore rating, while Gordon was a little lower on 7.0. Highlighting just how big the scrutiny is when you become a Barcelona player, however, fans online have been quick to comment on his display.

Barcelona Fans Drop Clear Verdict on Gordon’s England Performance

Barcelona fans were clearly not impressed with the player. A two-minute compilation emerged on social media, as the former Newcastle man struggled to break down the New Zealand defence.

One concerned fan wrote: “We got scammed, wtf?!” Another said: “He was literally one of the worst finishers in the PL. It’s absolutely pathetic that we’ve spent €80m on someone this awful.”

Along that theme, someone else said: “Ewww man €75m for this???? This is like when City signed Grealish but 10x worse.”

Adding to the strong feeling, someone simply stated: “Rashford way better.” Another seemed worried by the highlights, adding: “I’m howling.”

Even those with kinder takes weren’t exactly singing Gorfon’s praises. Somebody said: “Lamine being the only 1v1 specialist in the team irritates me. I’m not saying Gordon is bad, I’m just pointing out that without Lamine, no one can take on his man.”

Others were more defensive of the display, calling for more patience on the winger. One wrote: You guys should just relax and wait until he actually puts on the Barça shirt. That’s when the real evaluation starts.”

Another said: “This is why we don’t judge players on a friendly to warm up for the World Cup.”

Perhaps, damningly, one Barca fan even said: “He played better than I expected.”