Manchester United have agreed a deal for Ederson, but Michael Carrick wants as many as three midfielders as he looks to revamp the team’s engine room. The Brazilian has been signed on Casemiro’s recommendation, but the Atalanta ace is more of a box-to-box midfielder than a pure defensive midfielder. Mateus Fernandes is next on United’s radar, but the Portuguese is a deep-lying playmaker, which explains why INEOS are on the lookout for more options. After being priced out of moves for Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali, the Red Devils have been forced to look beyond the Premier League for their third recruit. United forced to look beyond the Premier League Ayyoub Bouaddi has emerged as an option following his World Cup heroics, while an even younger alternative is also on the club’s radar. According to TEAMtalk, Nathan De Cat of Anderlecht has impressed United’s scouts with his ball-winning ability and passing quality. In fact, his powerful frame and silky-smooth style has earned him comparisons with former Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets. At 17, he has already earned a senior cap for Belgium, and naturally, quite a few teams are chasing his signature. German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are firmly in the mix, as are Tottenham Hotspur. A move will depend on which team provides the best pathway to senior football and eventual success. Nathan De Cat has wowed United scouts Interestingly, the Anderlecht wonderkid’s current deal expires in 2027, and he has shown no inclination of agreeing a contract extension. Given the number of teams involved in the race, the Belgian side are hoping to earn close to £35 million from his sale. “Tottenham are firmly in the mix to sign talented Belgian midfielder Nathan De Cat, TEAMtalk understands, with Manchester United among his other admirers from the Premier League. “With his contract set to enter its final year and little sign of a new deal despite Anderlecht’s efforts, they face a choice: cash in now or risk losing their academy gem for free in 2027. Sources suggest the Brussels club would consider offers around €40million (£34.7m / $45.8m) – a potential club-record fee that reflects his sky-high potential. Lots of suitors to contend with “Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have been locked in a high-profile battle for his signature, drawn to his physical presence and tactical intelligence. Sources confirm both clubs have made approaches. German clubs’ track record with young talents makes a move there highly plausible. “In the Premier League, interest in De Cat is just as intense, with Tottenham among his most active suitors. Spurs have scouted him extensively and made contact with Anderlecht over the conditions of a deal, seeing him as a long-term deep-lying playmaker. Man Utd have made enquiries, while Manchester City and Chelsea have stepped up background checks.” It is also likely that Anderlecht could ask for a loan-back as part of any agreement. That might even help bring the price down. Now, whether United take the risk and go all out for Nathan De Cat remains to be seen. His signing would be an astute purchase but it would be made keeping in mind the future. Whether that is what Carrick wants remains to be seen. Feature image Alex Bierens de Haan 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 Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
United set to rival German giants for the next Sergio Busquets, INEOS have already made contact – report
United now eyeing surprise move for Croatian sensation who stunned England – Sky
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford reminded everyone of his brilliant goalscoring instincts and finishing ability by placing the ball into the bottom corner for England’s fourth goal against Croatia. With Barcelona reluctant to put their money where their mouth is, Rashford finds himself in an uncertain situation. United remain keen on selling the 28-year-old, who may need a strong World Cup campaign to attract top clubs. In the same thrilling opener in Dallas, one of Croatia’s most promising talents also showed his class with a superb strike, alerting his suitors. Manchester United set sights on Martin Baturina Croatia sensation Martin Baturina beat Jordan Pickford with a powerful effort to level the scoreline in the first half, announcing himself to a wider audience in the process. However, those who follow Serie A are already aware of Baturina’s immense potential, as the 23-year-old has swiftly established himself as one of Como’s most important players after moving to Italy from Dinamo Zagreb last year. According to Sky Italia, Manchester United are interested in Baturina amid the possibility of his summer departure. It is understood that Leeds United have already made an unsuccessful attempt to sign Baturina in the past. Bayern Munich have been mentioned as one of the interested parties, but the Premier League is thought to be a likelier destination for the versatile attacker. Apart from United, Aston Villa have also shown interest in the Croatia international. Martin Baturina could be brilliant addition at Manchester United The outlet confirms that Como have already rejected a €50m offer from an unnamed club. As such, the Red Devils would have to spend a considerable figure to bring them to the negotiating table. Recently, a Sky Sports report suggested that United could look to add a versatile forward this summer, depending on the potential departure of Joshua Zirkzee. In that regard, the technically gifted and intelligent Baturina is certainly an appealing target, given he can play out wide or inside. Baturina had eight goals and four assists to his name for Como across all competitions last term. 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 Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!
Rio Ferdinand explains why Rashford and United should shake hands and come back
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has changed his stance on Marcus Rashford’s future. The English forward is expected to leave the Red Devils permanently this summer, but his future remains unresolved at the moment. In an ideal world, Rashford should have been vying for Wayne Rooney’s goalscoring record for the English giants by now, but the reality is entirely different. The former Carrington graduate has scored 138 goals and registered 79 assists in 426 games for United to date and was once tipped to become an Old Trafford legend. Marcus Rashford Club Career Stats ClubAppearancesGoalsAssistsYellow CardsSecond Yellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Manchester United4261387936-228,596′ Barcelona4914143–2,622′ Aston Villa1746—940′ Manchester United U2181—-295′ Manchester United Youth League53—-391′ Manchester United U1811-1–90′ Total5061619940-232,934′ Source: Transfermarkt. Unfortunately, Rashford last featured for the Premier League giants in December 2024, under former head coach Ruben Amorim, who deemed him surplus to requirements. The 28 year old spent six months on loan at Aston Villa, before moving to Barcelona on another temporary deal last summer. Rashford was a revelation at Camp Nou, registering 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions to help the Catalans win the league and the Supercopa de Espana. However, that was not enough to convince the Spanish champions to trigger the €30 million purchase option in his contract. Rashford’s future remains unclear Barcelona have since opted to secure the services of Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon, igniting talk of Rashford’s possible reintegration into United’s squad. Recent reports, though, suggest that INEOS have decided to cut ties with the Englishman this summer. Rashford has been included in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup and was on the bench for the game against Croatia on Wednesday, 17 June. The United star replaced Gordon in the 72nd minute and scored in the 85th minute to help secure a 4-2 victory. Ferdinand had previously acknowledged that the Red Devils are better advised to part ways with Rashford this summer. However, the former England defender has now altered his stance on the situation. Ferdinand advocates Rashford’s United stay Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents after Rashford’s goalscoring start to the World Cup, Ferdinand insisted that his former club must reassess their stance on the player’s future. He said: “Manchester United might have to reevaluate Marcus Rashford’s situation.” “It seems like he has matured; the time away from the club may have done him the good that he needed, and it has cleansed both parties. Is it time to shake hands and come back?” Former United defender Wes Brown echoed those sentiments in a recent interview with The Peoples Person, where he said both parties need to apologise and sort out the matter. Barcelona spell has helped Rashford improve Ferdinand, meanwhile, went on to claim that the loan spell with Barcelona has helped Rashford mature, adding: “I think with Marcus Rashford, you can see the maturity, and you can see that Barcelona phase of his career has worked out in a way that he now understands his role.” “He was given a role at Barcelona, told he would be an impact player at times, to come on and change games. At England, that is his role, and that’s a huge asset to the squad in this competition.” “When you are an opposing full-back, and you see Marcus Rashford warming up at 75 minutes, you are looking over to the bench and saying, ‘Please get my number ready and take me off, I’m subbing myself out because I don’t want that smoke’. You don’t want that smoke at the start of the game, let alone in the 75th minute.” Final Thoughts The Rashford saga is fast becoming an elephant in the room for United and Michael Carrick. INEOS will have to deal with the matter tactfully to ensure it does not dictate how their summer progresses. Featured image Michael Steele 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.
United want one of Carrick’s most reliable stars to take major pay cut to extend his stay – report
A midseason change that saw Ineos sack Ruben Amorim and install Michael Carrick as caretaker proved a masterstroke. Carrick came in and turned things around. He restored Manchester United’s competitive edge, and 17 games later, guided them to a Champions League spot by finishing third in the league. Yet while Carrick was undoubtedly the architect of that turnaround, there were several unsung heroes along the way, and Luke Shaw is firmly among them. Shaw’s quality has never been in question. He is one of the finest all-round defenders in the Premier League. However, his fitness levels have consistently held him back. Since joining United in 2014, the Englishman has arguably spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch. Shaw was massive last season For much of his United career, Shaw was simply unavailable for selection. However, last season, that changed entirely. From Mr Unreliable to Mr Available, Shaw transformed into an ever-present figure in The Red Devils’ matchday squad; a first name on the teamsheet. He went on to become one of just five players in the Premier League era to start all 38 league games in a single season for the Manchester Reds. He did not simply start because he was fit; he started because he was essential, proving a cornerstone of the 20-time English champions’ defence. It is a shame, then, that despite such a fine 2025-26 campaign, Thomas Tuchel overlooked him for England’s World Cup squad. Either way, United are now looking to reward the former Southampton man with a new contract, according to The Sun. Shaw enters the final year of his current deal this summer, and the club will be keen to avoid losing him on a free next summer. However, sacrifices will be required if the 30-year-old is to remain at Old Trafford. The condition for a new Luke Shaw deal According to the outlet, “Luke Shaw will have to take a pay cut if he is to sign a new Manchester United contract. The left-back currently earns £200,000 a week, and United are not expected to offer the same salary. “If United decide to keep Shaw, it could be on a similar arrangement to Harry Maguire’s renewal in April.” Whether Shaw is willing to follow Maguire’s lead and accept a pay cut remains to be seen. However, at 32 next summer, it would be wise to compromise on wages to extend his stay at the club. His continued presence could also prove invaluable in easing the transition to his eventual successor at left-back, allowing Shaw to leave Old Trafford a hero while leaving the position in capable hands. Featured image by Alex Livesey/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 Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.
Club chief leaves door wide open to sale of phenomenal ex-PSG striker firmly on Uniteds radar
Manchester United may have been handed a massive boost in their bid to bring Italian striker Moise Kean back to the Premier League. While a striker is not a key transfer priority, it remains a position that United might look to address this summer. Whether Benjamin Sesko‘s deputy, Joshua Zirkzee, stays or leaves remains unclear, but there is a strong possibility he will depart after two successive failed attempts to engineer an exit. Should Zirkzee leave, he will need replacing, but who steps in? Given the position is not a pressing concern, active links to striker targets have been few. There have been rumours that experienced names such as Danny Welbeck and Robert Lewandowski could come in to serve as mentors for Sesko. There have also been some links to younger striker options such as Karl Etta Eyong and Moise Kean. Of those options, if Fiorentina’s Kean is the favoured choice should Zirkzee move on, United have now been handed a significant boost on that front. Moise Kean placed in the shop window Speaking to the media on Thursday, Fiorentina chief Fabio Paratici refused to rule out a potential Kean exit. On whether the striker stays or leaves, he said via Laviola: “As for Kean, he’s absolutely an asset to Italian football and Fiorentina. Everyone knows how fond I am of him; I’ve seen him grow from when he was 9 years old to the Champions League. I even sold him once under my management. “I’m fond of him, like all the players I’ve had. But we’re in a transfer window. We hope and want him to be our number nine. But not all football clubs are masters of their own destiny on the market, except the top five or six in the world. I think this is a sincere and realistic response for our fans.” Rather than pushing the narrative that Kean is untouchable, Paratici is clearly placing him in the shop window. Kean sale could be key to Fiorentina’s rebuild After a turbulent 2025-26 campaign that saw La Viola embroiled in a relegation battle, Fiorentina face a significant rebuild. Kean, whom former Italy striker Christian Vieri labelled a “phenomenal” striker, is among their most saleable assets, and a sale would go a long way towards funding that overhaul. Whether United move to capitalise remains to be seen. Yes, his stats last season were underwhelming; Kean only scored eight goals in 26 games, but his numbers in the 2024-25 campaign were brilliant: 19 goals in 32 appearances showed how deadly he can be. He can be a capable alternative to Sesko up top. INEOS attempted to sign him last summer and fell short. Now Fiorentina are offering them another chance to get the deal done. Featured image Timothy Rogers 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 Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.
A love letter to matchday at United
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United make “extraordinary” Serie A monster their new priority target, 48m offer will seal the deal – report
Manchester United have identified Khéphren Thuram as a “priority target” this summer as Juventus set their asking price for the 25-year-old midfielder, according to a new report. Strong Start to the Summer The Red Devils have wasted no time in beginning an overhaul of a midfield unit that has been severely weakened by the departure of Casemiro. The inability of Manuel Ugarte to function as a successor to the Brazil international means he is likely to join him through the exit door should a suitable offer arrive for his services. In their place come reinforcements, with a £39 million deal already in the bag to sign Atalanta dynamo Ederson, and talks underway to add West Ham’s breakout star, Mateus Fernandes, to the mix. The Hammers will drive a hard bargain for the 21-year-old Portugal international, however, with a demand as high as £85m likely to be outside United’s reach, regardless of how highly rated he is by the recruitment department at Old Trafford. But the plan is to sign a third midfielder to help cope with the sale of Ugarte, whose £42.7m capture from Paris Saint-Germain two years ago ranks comfortably as the worst piece of business of the INEOS era. While United’s hierarchy’s preference is a Premier League-proven operator, the pursuit of Ederson shows they will strike abroad if a target – and, more importantly, his price tag – are deemed too good an opportunity to pass up. A Return to Italy? Sports Boom reveals United are set to return to Serie A after “designat[ing] Thuram as a priority target this summer”, though there will be competition for his signature from bitter rivals Liverpool. The France international’s profile is said to fit into Carrick’s plan “extremely well” – with good reason. Earlier in the season, Italian coach Giovanni Martusciello described him as “extraordinary”, having established himself as a key part of the Old Lady’s team. Standing 6’4 with an outstanding engine and good mobility for such a tall player, he is able to affect matches across all phases of play. A particular strength is his ball-carrying ability, where he can win possession and immediately drive through midfield with his potent pairing of size and skill. Four goals and five assists this year, with five and eight last season, show an ability to be decisive in the final third, with an outstanding strike in his locker. His obvious threat from set-pieces is another bonus, particularly with how corners and throw-ins have come to dominate in the Premier League. While Juventus have officially briefed Thuram is not for sale, the Italian giant is under pressure financially after missing out on Champions League qualification. Sports Boom claims well-placed sources indicate they would be open to offers in the “region of €50 million to €55 million” (£43-48m). In January, Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli saw a €50m offer rejected, while interest from Turkish rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce was also rebuffed. The player’s preference is to remain in Turin, but the Premier League is his desired location should he be forced to leave. Nottingham Forest have identified Thuram as an ambitious target after holding initial talks with Juventus, while Liverpool join United in monitoring the situation. Either of the north-west rivals would have little trouble dispatching the Tricky Trees should they choose to accelerate their interest, however. Final Thoughts Stylistically, Thuram appears tailor-made for the Premier League, while his age and experience also tick a lot of boxes. But the Frenchman is best deployed as a box-crashing No.8, meaning he would likely offer an alternative to Kobbie Mainoo, rather than an ideal partner for the 21-year-old England international. With West Ham digging their heels in over Fernandes, The Peoples Person believes Thuram is an alternative to the Portuguese maestro, who remains the ‘priority target’ in M16 this summer, given Elliot Anderson looks set to arrive on the blue half of Manchester. Feature image Alessandro Sabattini 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 Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.
