Manchester United have the full go-ahead from one player to complete a signing, but they are yet to make their move this summer. The Red Devils’ preparations for the new season are already well underway, with two friendlies now in the books after Friday night’s 5-0 win over Rosenborg.

Michael Carrick has also made progress on the transfer front, signing Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, while work is ongoing to sign another midfielder, a left-back and likely a forward, although the latter could depend on a departure.

More business is to come for United, and they know the central midfielder role is likely the most important, given the vital importance of having a world-class pivot in the modern game, and the Red Devils have lost Casemiro this summer.

Baleba option is still on the table for Man Utd

Man Utd were heavily linked with a move for Brighton’s holding midfielder Carlos Baleba during the January transfer window, and the links have spilled over into this summer. United are taking their time over the signing of the final new midfielder of the summer, and they are yet to make a move for Baleba, but the ‘monster’ midfielder still dreams of a move to Old Trafford.

Fabrizio Romano shared on his YouTube channel: “From my understanding, Baleba one year ago, August 2025, was pushing like crazy to go to Man United, and Baleba had an agreement on personal terms with Man United. So he had his dream to become a Man United player. Then Man United couldn’t proceed because Brighton didn’t want to sell the player.

“He was a top target at that time with Amorim, and so nothing happened. Then Man United were considering Baleba as a top target when Amorim was at the club. Then, since January, when Amorim and Man United decided not to continue together, since that time the track has gone cold for Baleba.

“Now the name is out there again. Why? Because my understanding is that those close to the player have been in contact again with Man United to suggest the possibility to return for Baleba. So it’s from Baleba side that they are trying to understand if Man United can return for the boy or not after the Ederson deal off and after all the other developments from Baleba side, they want to understand if there is a chance to reopen conversations and negotiations with Man United.”

Baleba’s asking price is unclear this summer, but it will be North of £70million.

Baleba could be ‘one of the best’

There is big hope around the future of the ‘world-class’ Baleba, who has already proven himself more than competent at Premier League level despite still being only 22 years of age.

“I’m a big fan of Carlos Baleba at Brighton,” former Premier League midfielder Charlie Adam said last year. “The two lads, Baleba and Yasin Ayari, at Brighton have been very good. I watched them when Brighton won at Manchester United. I thought they were excellent. Are they the next ones from the conveyor belt to maybe move on? The Cameroonian is a very good player, 21 years of age. I think that he’s been something that’s different from what’s been in the Premier League.”

Former Brighton and current Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has said: “I believe in Carlos. He can become one of the best players in the Premier League in the future, for sure.”

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a move for a third midfield transfer after Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, according to the Mirror.

Tottenham wasted no time in transforming their defence and midfield in the early weeks of the summer transfer window, with Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka arriving to strengthen the team’s rearguard after they conceded 183 goals across the last three Premier League seasons.

Luka Vuskovic has already departed as Spurs focus on outgoings, with captain Cristian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, Alfie Dorrington and Ashley Phillips among the other defensively-minded players who could be on their way out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the coming weeks.

Fernandes and Tonali joined in two club-record transfers to significantly boost De Zerbi’s midfield options, with Lucas Bergvall another midfielder who could be on his way out as Premier League interest grows in the Sweden international.

Should he leave, it remains to be seen whether the north London outfit push ahead and bring in another body for the midfield engine room, but they certainly have some targets in mind if they are to do that.

In the meantime, their transfer priority is strengthening the attack with talks ongoing over a deal for Manchester City winger Savinho.

Tottenham Interested in Alex Scott

via Reuters

According to the Mirror, Tottenham are one of a number of top Premier League clubs looking at a summer move for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott.

The Cherries had been hoping to keep hold of the England international for their maiden European campaign next term, but the 22-year-old has just rejected the club’s latest contract offer.

While Spurs, Manchester United and Arsenal all hold an interest in the midfielder, it is Chelsea who have recently had a £64m bid rejected for the Englishman, as Xabi Alonso looks to sign a new midfielder this summer.

The report claims that the Scott would like to move to Stamford Bridge, presumably seeing it as an opportunity for Alonso to make him an even better midfield player.

Scott is a Tottenham Fan

via Reuters

Interestingly, Scott has previously admitted that he is a Tottenham fan and supported the club as a kid.

If Spurs were to ramp up their interest in him, there would surely be a keenness from the player to complete a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, if they could seal an agreement with Bournemouth.

You do have to wonder where there is a spot for Scott in De Zerbi’s starting XI right now though, given Fernandes and Tonali are likely to be the sitters in his preferred 4-2-3-1 system, with James Maddison ahead of them as he continues his comeback from injury.

Tottenham are also focusing their remaining budget on their attack as things stand, so an outlay of more than £64m would be big for a position in which they are already well covered.

Remember, beyond Fernandes and Tonali, the Italian manager also has Rodrigo Bentancur, Conor Gallagher, Archie Gray, Pape Matar Sarr and Bergvall to pick from in the position currently.

Manchester United‘s Marcus Rashford stance appears to have softened as they try to edge the forwards towards the exit door this summer. Michael Carrick is hoping to build a squad that can compete for one of the top two or three spots in the Premier League next season while also putting together a solid Champions League run.

The Red Devils have started building their squad, snapping up Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos so far, and work is ongoing to add another midfielder, a left-back and possibly a forward. Carrick will get money to spend this summer, but United are said to want to trim their wage bill, which they can do by selling just one player.

Rashford, who spent last season on loan with Barcelona, earns more than £300,000-per-week, and his wage actually increased this summer. The England forward has been heavily linked with an exit, but there has been little movement so far, leading to a softer stance.

Carrick offers olive branch to Rashford

Marty Jean-Louis/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Carrick will now welcome Rashford back for pre-season when the England forward has returned from his holidays following his World Cup participation.

“Rashford is going to restart the pre-season with Man United,” said Romano. “My understanding is that Michael Carrick is really looking forward to that moment. So Carrick wants to try to work with Marcus Rashford, wants to have the opportunity to reunite with Marcus Rashford. He knows the player, and wants to have a good connection at the beginning of the season. And then let’s see what happens if a good proposal arrives for United and for Rashford, he can still leave the club from now to the end of the season.

“Otherwise, he will have a chance to be part of the Carrick squad and be part of the Manchester United team for the upcoming season.”

Rashford’s may still have options this summer

Rashford doesn’t appear to have many options at the moment, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be come the end of the summer. The forward could yet receive an offer from Barcelona despite the fact the Catalan club passed up their option to buy on the back of last season’s impressive loan spell.

Barca did not activate the option due to concentrating on some of their other business, which included the signing of Karim Adeyemi, and they continue to pursue Atletico Madrid superstar Julian Alvarez. Should they fail in that pursuit, which seems more likely than not at this stage, Atletico could circle back for Rashford, as reported in Spain. Other clubs could also pop up before the summer is over.

Meanwhile, United have a wage problem with Rashford, and even if the ‘outstanding’ England forward does impress Carrick, it’s likely they will need to convince the forward to reduce his wage if they want to contemplate keeping him, especially with the spending we are likely to see at Old Trafford this summer.