Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been on Manchester United business for two successive Mondays. His trip to Old Trafford for the Leeds United match will have left him contemplating the more difficult decisions ahead.
A week later, he was back in Manchester, visiting United’s training base at Carrington to hold meetings, with the picture much happier.
In between, Michael Carrick took United to Stamford Bridge and won, putting the club on the brink of Champions League qualification. Reaching Europe’s elite competition will significantly boost United’s bank balance, unlocking a wider range of transfer options.
Carrick’s future is undecided. Should he stay, his input will be valuable, but United feel they can proceed on targets in any case. Chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox, and director of recruitment Christopher Vivell will feed into Ratcliffe.
Top of the list for United is midfield, with two new signings in that position expected to arrive. Their skill sets will need to complement each other, as well as Kobbie Mainoo, who is finalising a new contract. United hope one midfielder can also be promoted from the academy. Tyler Fletcher, 19, and Jim Thwaites, 18, have been around the first team recently.
Carlos Baleba was watched at the Africa Cup of Nations for Cameroon (Getty Images)
United are weighing up several options. One, who remains highly plausible, is Carlos Baleba. After personal terms were broadly agreed on his behalf with United last summer, he has experienced a difficult campaign at Brighton & Hove Albion, being substituted off in 15 Premier League games, including at half-time on four occasions. He has completed 90 minutes only three times. But one of those was in the 3-0 win over Chelsea on Tuesday night, when he played well, winning the ball in the penalty box from Robert Sanchez to set up Jack Hinshelwood for a big chance.
In any case, United have continued to track Baleba since last summer. United watched him play for Cameroon during the Africa Cup of Nations, alongside Bryan Mbeumo. Baleba was viewed as having a positive tournament across five matches, and United rate his overall data as a good fit for the squad in terms of ground coverage, possession-winning and passing.
It seems undeniable that United’s pursuit last summer turned his head, and his form at Brighton was partially affected. He also worked through some injury niggles. When appearing for Cameroon, he regained his confidence. Brighton staff have supported him throughout this testing period.
He is, though, in a lower category of midfielders on United’s list. Last summer, when his stock was high after two excellent seasons, United would have gone to £75million ($101m) but Brighton wanted more than £100m. Now, United are believed to feel a fee in the £50m region makes more sense. Whether this would appeal to Brighton, led by owner Tony Bloom, a notoriously tough negotiator, remains to be seen.
United are also looking at the centre-back market. There are people at United who believe Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro can develop into as good a partnership as Gabriel and William Saliba at Arsenal. But recruitment staff feel an addition is required to cope with the load of Champions League football.
Ideally, they want to add an imposing, left-footed defender. Heaven, 19, is on his way to establishing himself in that way, but there are doubts over Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez after injury-hit campaigns. Harry Maguire is 33 and while he is in great form, rotation will be required in a season with European competition.
A name being considered is Micky Van de Ven. The 25-year-old, who spoke to Gary Neville on The Overlap podcast in December, is expected to attract interest, whatever division Tottenham Hotspur end up in. His contract runs to 2029, so his value is protected. There is the irony that if Spurs are relegated, it would ease the exit path for some of their best players.
Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are more likely to leave Spurs if they are relegated (Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
It has been a turbulent season for Van de Ven, but he has still scored seven goals in 40 appearances, and his assist for Brennan Johnson at Old Trafford in 2024 stands out in the minds of United fans. His speed, ball-carrying, and tackling ability would be a major plus to United’s squad. Liverpool, however, have been interested in the past and could compete for his signature along with other major clubs in Europe.
United will still need to raise funds through sales and Manuel Ugarte is prominent in their thoughts. Ugarte signed in a £50.5m deal from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 but has not established himself and is set to be made available for transfer. Ratcliffe is said to believe the 25-year-old should be sold, a stance underlined by his view from the Old Trafford directors’ box for the Leeds game, which Ugarte started in place of the injured Mainoo.
Champions League revenue and transfer income will dictate how much money United can spend on enhancing their team.
Elliot Anderson tops United’s list for midfield due to his all-action style, but Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is believed to want as much as £125m. Marinakis has shown he is a formidable personality, holding firm on Morgan Gibbs-White last summer despite Spurs attempting to trigger his exit clause. Should Forest go down, though, logic dictates Anderson’s price would also reduce.
Manchester City are thought to be Anderson’s favoured destination in the event of a move, but Rodri’s future is a factor. Some close observers doubt City could agree a fresh contract with Rodri and spend more than £100m on Anderson. City are also considering other options, while Real Madrid have been touted as a possible destination for Rodri too.
Aurelien Tchouameni, a player already at Madrid, is also being discussed in United meetings. The 26-year-old French international has, though, been one of the few consistent players at the Bernabeu this campaign and it is unclear whether Madrid would allow him to leave, or if he wants a new club. Tchouameni could end up signing a fresh contract instead.
Adam Wharton, 22, is liked by people at United for his passing and decisiveness on the ball. His consistent displays in the business end of the season have impressed, especially as he has played 47 games for club and country. But the price Crystal Palace demand may be too high for United, with chairman Steve Parish a hard person to sit across the table from for directors at buying clubs.
A deal for Sandro Tonali, 25, is expected to be out of United’s reach.
Mateus Fernandes at West Ham United, Alex Scott at Bournemouth and Joao Gomes at Wolves have also been watched.
Although United want to add two midfielders, doing both at a price point in the £70m-plus region — echoing their three big signings last summer — might be beyond their finances this time round, given the further squad strengthening required.
Removing Casemiro’s wages will free up significant funds. Sources say the plus-one clause in his contract can still be triggered if he starts all remaining matches — he would be entitled to his full salary back up at £350,000 per week for qualifying for the Champions League — but he and club executives have agreed he will depart. He is relinquishing his right to £18.2m in an annual salary, but leaving as a free agent strengthens his negotiating power with interested clubs. An MLS move is plausible and Inter Miami, in the city he has frequently visited, are in talks.
United aim to make four major signings, including an experienced striker and a left-back, with Tyrell Malacia departing and Luke Shaw needing more frequent rests, given the addition of midweek games. Agents in the industry think United might need more overall, possibly a surplus of three players from the numbers now.
A left-winger might also be pursued, although Matheus Cunha has hit a groove on that side, and Patrick Dorgu is seen as more likely to operate there, too.