- Fernandes is keeping his options open, with his agent Jorge Mendes speaking to both Tottenham and Manchester United.
- United remain firm on only signing players at prices they believe reflect fair value.
- While they admired Fernandes, the club feels last season proved that patience brings the right players at the right prices.
- United also questioned whether Fernandes genuinely wanted to join them.
- Strengthening central midfield is the priority. A £35m agreement is in place with Atalanta for Ederson, though his arrival is postponed after a late call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad.
- Players are due back for pre-season on 9 July and, aside from out-of-contract pair Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia, Michael Carrick’s squad is unchanged from the end of last season, with no major ins or outs.
- Plans to sell Manuel Ugarte have been shelved after his serious World Cup injury with Uruguay. Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee remains at the club, and talk of Mason Mount’s departure has been dismissed by sources.
July2July 2, 2026