Manchester United have secured qualification to the Champions League for 2026/27 but have a wealth of work to do this summer transfer window
Manchester United officially secured their spot in the Champions League next season with a 3-2 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. But the club have work to do this summer should they hope to compete for European glory.
Michael Carrick has instilled confidence in the club since stepping in on an interim basis in January following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal. They are sitting pretty in third in the Premier League standings as they head into their final three against Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Brighton.
However, major improvement is needed in the centre of the park as well as defence, should the Reds hope to continue to grow in 2026/27. Casemiro is set to leave the club when his contract expires in the coming months, while Luke Shaw is in need of replacement, considering he is entering the twilight years of his career.
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Here’s how MEN Sport would approach things if we were in the United hot seat this summer…
A £155million Newcastle United transfer raid
It’s clear that United need to strengthen two positions: left-back and the engine room. While Shaw has been a key player in 2025/26, making 35 appearances in the Premier League alone, the Englishman is out of contract at 31 next summer.
Heading into the latter stages of his career, the Reds would be wise to source reinforcements in the coming months and integrate a new full-back into their first-team.
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Lewis Hall has been a standout in an otherwise lacklustre Newcastle United side this season, providing reliable performances on the left-hand side against stiff domestic and European competition. Given that Newcastle are unlikely to contend in any form of European football next season, and a wealth of interest from bigger clubs, Hall may look for the door in the coming months.
The crux is that any deal will not come cheap and that the Magpies will likely command a fee of around £55m for him. That figure could also soar further, depending on interest from other parties. Like Hall, Sandro Tonali’s future with his current club is also in doubt. The central midfielder has frequently been one of the first names on Eddie Howe’s team sheet when fit.
Too good to be limited to just domestic competition, Tonali could also be headed for the exit in the coming months if recent speculation is anything to go off. But with Arsenal and Manchester City also said to be interested in the 25-year-old, who is under contract until 2028, United may have to pay an inflated price to strip Newcastle of their most prized player.
A recent valuation of around £100m has been put on Tonali by the Magpies, according to reports. And while there may be far cheaper alternatives on the market, United would be wise to pay whatever Newcastle are asking for if they’re serious about finding the best-quality successor to Casemiro.
Marcus Rashford issue resolved
Despite a highly successful season-long loan with Barcelona, Marcus Rashford’s future away from United is still nowhere near certain. While the La Liga giants have an option to make his move permanent in a matter of weeks for around £26m, it is thought that Barca could use those funds to secure an out-and-out striker as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
While Rashford has proven that he can operate through the middle, his favoured position is on the left-hand side, which is largely occupied by Raphinha. It’s a long shot, and ultimately all down to Rashford, but there could be no harm in integrating him back into the first team this summer.
The 28-year-old has shown United what they are missing on the left flank time and time again in sunny Spain this season, Matheus Cunha arguably more suited to a traditional No. 10 role or as a second striker. With Amorim out of the picture, Rashford could once again thrive at Old Trafford.
An ambitious swoop for Cole Palmer
One could easily ignore Paul Merson’s claims that Cole Palmer will not want to play for Chelsea should they miss out on Champions League football. The attacking midfielder is the heartbeat of the club and appears incredibly settled in west London.
But with Chelsea losing their last six Premier League games and making a U-turn on their faith in Liam Rosenior, a number of key players may have one eye on the door, Palmer included.
The Englishman was linked with a shock move to United in the January window before Rosenior branded him untouchable. But similarly to Tonali, he will want to consistently challenge himself at the highest levels in his career.
Of course, should United be fruitful in their endeavours of securing Hall and Tonali or players of a similar fee this summer, splashing out on Palmer may be too rich for the board’s blood. That’s especially considering Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s notoriety for cutting costs and saving cash coupled with a valuation of around £150m at present.
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