Manchester United have had a productive summer with three signings thus far.
They have primarily focused on strengthening their midfield and have already signed Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, alongside goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
United are expected to pursue a third midfielder, according to The Sun. Let’s have a look at who the club could sign after the recent arrival of Tielemans.
Manu Kone – Roma
The Frenchman played an instrumental role in the Giallorossi qualifying for the Champions League with a third-place finish in Serie A last term. He had an equally good World Cup with Les Bleus and looks poised to secure a bigger challenge this summer.
Kone has his sights on moving to the Premier League. His impressive ball-playing ability and defensive work rate should prove a perfect foil for United. The former Borussia Monchengladbach man could be prised away for slightly over £43 million.
United are not alone in the player’s pursuit, with Premier League counterparts Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea linked too. The Red Devils are reportedly ‘in the front row‘ to sign him, and there could be some activity now that Kone’s World Cup has concluded.
Carlos Baleba – Brighton & Hove Albion
Baleba was a top target for the Red Devils last summer but were put off by Brighton’s hefty £115m price tag. The Cameroonian ace was open to joining the club at the time, and the transfer setback clearly affected his 2025/26 season.
The ex-Lille midfielder was a shadow of himself throughout the campaign with a drastic dip in almost every attribute. He won 50 percent fewer tackles and duels during the previous season, and his recoveries were also halved compared to 2024/25.
Still, there is a player with huge potential, and United could return for him if Brighton lower their price to the £80m range. That seems less likely, given the Seagulls are a tough negotiating club and tend to stick to their valuations for key players.
Alex Scott – Bournemouth
Scott had a productive season with the Cherries last term. An injury crisis paved the way for the Englishman to operate as a defensive midfielder under manager Andoni Iraola, which brought the best of him in the back end of last season.
The youngster recently snubbed a new Cherries deal beyond June 2028 despite the club offering a reasonable release clause. Bournemouth presently rate him at £80m, but that valuation could drop if the ongoing contract standoff continues.
Just like Kone, Arsenal are also firm admirers of the England youth international. BBC Sport recently claimed that they had an approach turned down by the Cherries. There could be a bidding tussle between the pair for the highly-rated 22-year-old.
Stats from Sofascore
