After a dreadful 2024\/25 campaign, United signed five players<\/a> with a strong emphasis on strengthening the attack after saying goodbye to Alejandro Garnacho<\/a>. <\/p>\n However, United had an array of targets, and some of them opted to sign for other clubs.<\/p>\n Viktor Gyokeres was linked<\/a> with reuniting with Ruben Amorim<\/a> at Old Trafford<\/a>, but he joined Arsenal with ambitions to win the Premier League<\/a> in his first season.<\/p>\n The Swede wasn\u2019t the only forward player to attract interest from United without signing for the club. <\/p>\n An impressive season in the Premier League with Ipswich Town led to Liam Delap becoming a United target before he signed for Chelsea in a \u00a330 million deal.<\/p>\n The apparent reason Delap chose to join Chelsea over United<\/a> comes down to Champions League<\/a> qualification.<\/p>\n After suffering relegation with Ipswich Town, Delap decided he wanted his next move to a club competing in Europe\u2019s most prestigious competition.<\/p>\n United missed the opportunity to qualify for the Champions League when they lost the Europa League final<\/a> against Tottenham Hotspur.<\/p>\n To avoid the same issue next summer, United will need to finish in one of the Champions League spots, and they are currently three points adrift of the top four.<\/p>\n Reliable reporter Ben Jacobs claims Carlos Baleba remains a target for United<\/a>, but warned that Adam Wharton\u2019s preference is to join a team in the Champions League.<\/p>\n \u201cCarlos Baleba is in many ways a dream target for Manchester United, Adam Wharton<\/a>, let\u2019s see if he signs a new contract,\u201d Jacobs told The United Stand<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll get a lot of speculation; it\u2019s all good speculating, but if he signs a new deal, that may take the summer move off the table.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I\u2019m told as well with Adam Wharton is that he\u2019s more in that category, like Liam Delap, who wants to leave for Champions League football, so if Manchester United can get that this season, they\u2019d be in a stronger position.\u201d<\/p>\n United failed to sign Baleba<\/a> last summer, but the Brighton midfielder has struggled for form this season.<\/p>\n Elliot Anderson is also a primary target<\/a> for United after pulling up trees in Nottingham Forest\u2019s midfield.<\/p>\n Liam Delap struggling at Chelsea<\/p>\n![\"Adam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2248337279-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Malcolm Couzens\/Getty ImagesAdam Wharton\u2019s demand ahead of 2026 transfer<\/p>\n