If you are United: Roy Keane delivers surprise verdict on INEOS’ recent transfer failures

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has provided a refreshing take on the club’s recent misfortunes in the transfer market. The Irishman is known not to mince his words and has regularly criticised the Red Devils in recent times. The English giants, meanwhile, are looking to upgrade their midfield before the start of the new season, but have suffered back-to-back setbacks of late. United have reportedly secured the services of Atalanta’s Ederson but are keen to add more Premier League-proven quality to the middle of the park. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson was reportedly their preferred choice for the job, but bitter rivals Manchester City have won the race for the English midfielder. The Red Devils had initially shifted their focus to West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes as an alternative to Anderson, but Tottenham Hotspur have pipped them to the Portuguese. The mood, understandably, is downbeat among United fans, but Keane reckons there is no reason to panic just yet. United have to be patient Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane insisted that United have to be patient in their transfer approach and warned against panic buys. He said: “If you are United you wouldn’t panic.” “We’ve said the last few years there seems to be panic with United’s transfers, you have to trust them and go, okay things have settled down, their recent recruitment have been good and maybe they know what they are doing.” “In the last 12 months their recruitment has been a bit better. Don’t panic, don’t get involved in these silly auctions and spend crazy money on good midfielders. I suppose people have to trust.” It is nice to see Keane, who has never shied away from controversies in recent times, back the club as they attempt to get their summer plans back in order. Who could United target this summer? While United may have missed out on two of their priority targets, there are still several midfielders they can move for before the end of the summer. The Red Devils have to bring in an established face to replace Casemiro, who was outstanding last season but has left as a free agent. Casemiro Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsSecond YellowRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League34339291-2,589′ FA Cup10—–11′ EFL Cup——– Total35339291-2,600′ Source: Transfermarkt. Ideally, the English giants would prefer to sign Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni to replace the Brazilian at the Theatre of Dreams. However, recent reports suggest that a move for the Frenchman is unlikely this summer. There have also been links to Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha, who caught the eye with Germany at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Bundesliga giants are reportedly willing to accept a bonus-based payment structure for the 25 year old, which could tempt United this summer. If the Red Devils are looking for candidates closer to home, they could turn to Alex Scott, who has been on INEOS’ wish list following an impressive campaign. Unfortunately, recent reports suggest that Bournemouth have no desire to let their prized asset leave. Final Thoughts Keane is right to preach a calm and composed approach to the summer window at the moment, especially since the 2026 World Cup has disrupted the market. INEOS’ recent transfer strategy has been a hit and there is no need to abandon that approach now. Featured Image Alex Pantling via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.