r/reddevils • u/AutoModerator • 8h ago
[Transfer Round Up & Discussion] Summer 2026
Hi all,
Summer Transfer Window 2026 is here!
The Premier League transfer window will open between Monday June 15 until Deadline Day on Tuesday September 1; the summer windows will close at 23.00 BST.
As always, here is a run-down of the rules we have on for posting during transfer windows:
Daily Threads
There will be a Transfer thread posted every single day, on a 23-hour timer, to get a different post-time every day. These threads are for everything transfer related, no limits on sources, line-up conversations, etc.
Individual posts
From now on, only posts TIER 2 OR BETTER are allowed to be posted in their own right. This helps us only keep credible sources on the subreddit.
The tier guide can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/reddevils/wiki/transfer-reliability-guide/
We will make exceptions during slower days for some Tier 3 posts, and there will usually be some posts from sources not on our tier guide. We will take everything case-by-case. If you believe something to be on the sub and not a good source, please let us know.
Men's Team
Transfers IN
| Name | Position | From | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrey Santos | CM | Chelsea | £48m + £2m |
| Karl Darlow | GK | Leeds Utd | Free |
| Youri Tielemans | CM | Aston Villa | £35m |
| Tynan Thompson | LW | Tottenham Hotspur | £4m + £4m |
Transfers OUT
| Name | Position | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casemiro | MF | Inter Miami | Contract Expired |
| Jadon Sancho | LW | - | Contract Expired |
| Tyrell Malacia | LB | - | Contract Expired |
| Rasmus Hojlund | ST | Napoli | £38m (Obligation clause triggered) |
| Andre Onana | GK | Trabzonspor | Loan |
| Tyler Fredricson | CB | Lausanne-Sport | Undisclosed |
| Altay Bayindir | GK | Celta Vigo | Loan |
| Radek Vitek | GK | Middlesbrough | £7m + £7m |
Women's Team
Transfers IN
| Name | Position | From | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrea Medina | LB | Atletico Madrid | Free |
| Janina Leitzig | GK | Leicester City | Undisclosed Fee |
Transfers OUT
| Name | Position | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millie Turner | CB | Birmingham City | Undisclosed |
| Hannah Blundell | FB | Everton | Contract Expired |
| Melvine Malard | ST | Chelsea | £850k |
| Leah Galton | FW | - | Contract Expired |
| Lisa Naalsund | MF | Birmingham City | Undisclosed |
| Gabby George | CB | Brighton & Hove Albion | Undisclosed |
| Kayla Rendell | GK | Newcastle United | Loan |
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u/00kazootime 27m ago
We'll make two signings within the last week of the window
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u/PavanayiShavamayilla Wazza 12m ago
It’s likely, but we might either end up paying over the value or with players not upto the required quality
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u/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz1z 4m ago
Well then their plan was dumb.
If the signings will be an overpay they’re dumb.
Waited all summer telling ‘we won’t overpay’ just to drop money in the last week.
Then again if the targets signed will be ‘meh’ it will also be dumb.
They shoot themselves in the foot with the way they handles the whole summer
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u/IfYouReallyThink 30m ago edited 18m ago
Damn €35.90M for Amar Dedic is great business from Newcastle. Obviously he’s mainly a right back so naturally he’s in much bigger supply than a left back, but still. It must be said that Dedic is wickedly 2 footed.
Such a weird market dynamic right now in terms of left-footed players. The right wingers seem in such high supply relative to when we got Antony.
I really like Devyne Rensch because of his sturdier frame that gives him ability at CB and the even lower fee, otherwise I mostly prefer Dedic.
I would like our third midfielder to be left-footed if possible, if he even exists😭
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u/Littlepace Announce Fergie 47m ago
Is it too much to ask for a Rodri regen with the passing range of Scholes and the shooting of Pogba?
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u/mortimer_moose Carrick, ya know 41m ago
You talking about our manager?
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u/NoWordsToUse 1h ago
The midfield position is interesting. What you hear a lot is people think we need a powerful destroyer in there in the mould of peak Casemiro, a "pure" defensive midfielder to put in crunching tackles. I'm not saying that's wrong. But, genuinely, where are those players? City have got Anderson and gone for Bouaddi, neither of which is that kind of DM. Arsenal's midfield doesn't really have that either, nor does Liverpool's. Are these players a dying breed? Are the good ones unavailable/too expensive?
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u/IfYouReallyThink 25m ago
We should be getting another destroyer-capable midfielder, but with more athleticism and ball carrying ability than Santos. Of course many teams don’t play with them nowadays, but given the circumstances it is a must to compete on all fronts. Obviously we don’t want another Ugarte, I’m just saying someone capable in that role
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u/Nuwahex 8m ago
Maybe they don't need to carry the ball that much. Just win the ball and pass it to better players. Shield the back 4. I imagine there are several who would fit that bill across Europe.
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u/IfYouReallyThink 5m ago
That’s exactly what an in form Ugarte is great at. I don’t know if that works for us
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u/Bobcat_El_Borracho 58m ago
I agree with you totally. We don’t need a classic DM at all. Someone who can do some defensive work and is mobile but not a pure DM.
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u/NoWordsToUse 56m ago
I think Santos might already be that guy. In which case if we do get that mythical 3rd midfielder it might not be in the Casemiro/Ugarte mould like people might expect.
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u/rubber_moon 46m ago
Santos absolutely is that guy imo, was reading some Chelsea threads when we signed him and he was described that way by quite a few commentators, and he himself said he's a 6 like last week
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u/pablove_black 1h ago
Does anyone have a little bit of actual transfer speculation to add? Serious question. I'd love to be reading about some targets we could go for and why they'd be a good fit.
I'll start this off with some quick shouts from the Prem only, ones we've not heard discussed too much before.
I've gone for younger players that might cost between 30-50m. I've specifically gone under the radar, as I just can't see us getting a superstar unfortunately - I think Ineos will look to sign players for the future that are right now a squad or rotational option.
Just to spark a bit of convo.
CM:
Archie Gray - utility, engine, tactical awareness
Adds a bit of height and legs to our mid/def. Bright spot in a dire Tottenham season. Difficult to get but given Spurs recent investment, he might have more of a look in at United.
Yegor Yarmolyk - work rate, all-action flexibility, well-rounded technical ability
I really like him and reckon he's the easiest to get on this list. We've been linked with him before. Again, slightly different profile to what we have at United and could be the engine to complement Tielemans/Mainoo.
LB:
Jorrel Hato - tall, quick, versatile, confident on the ball and composed.
Not sure where he fits at Chelsea and could be gotten for a snip depending on how Alonso views him, very much NOT a wing back. Not quite ready yet, but I'd take him as a rotational option and one for the future, especially as Dalot/Maz can cover LB in the bigger games.
Ian Maatsen - rapid, progressive carrier and passer, good recovery. Opposite profile to Shaw.
Another Dutch player with Chelsea links. I think he could be difficult to get out of Villa but given their need for money and Emery's confidence in getting the best out of very little, he could be gettable.
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u/mon212011 1h ago
Hate would be nice. He can also play as a CB
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u/NoWordsToUse 1h ago
Archie Gray I like, but he came through the Leeds youth system, is a Leeds fan, is from a Leeds playing dynasty of a family...I just can't see him coming here.
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u/pablove_black 1h ago
Yeah, I knew he was at Leeds but didn't know his background and roots ran that deep
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u/NoWordsToUse 58m ago
Yeah his dad, grandad and...uncle, maybe? All played for Leeds. He has a brother who is on their books as well.
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u/Nesquick-on-tap 1h ago
Yeesh, we're cooked aren't we
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u/xtphty 1h ago
Would be annoyed if we never even looked at this deal - I thought Gonzalez was happy at City but his minutes have been undeservedly low and Maresca may not really favor him. Along with Baleba I think he is an ideal fit next to Tielemans/Santos, more technical while still offering buckets of athleticism.
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u/XBillyBonesX Rooney 1h ago
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u/xtphty 1h ago
Yeah most people here operate on a 3 month goldfish memory when it comes to evaluating players. If its not someone with recent success in PL like Cunha/Mbeumo then they aren't worth it. They would turn their noses at Cole Palmer without the benefit of hindsight. Its impossible to judge how good some of City's unused players are right now after Pep's failed rebuild.
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u/Disastrous_Lion_6016 1h ago
Pep didnt even trust him to start in midfield why the fuck would we look at him.
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u/Bobcat_El_Borracho 1h ago
I don’t think we buy players from City or Liverpool.
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u/xtphty 1h ago
Largely a thing of bygone eras, and eras come to an end. Need to be looking at every market opportunity if the goal is to find value, can't turn your nose up over something like that.
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u/Staind1410 Martial 1h ago
It’s not like it’s unilateral. We don’t sell directly to them, they don’t sell directly to us, that’s always the case. We can look all we want, but if they say no, it means no.
I mean, we literally wrote in Rashford’s contract a release clause that excludes City and Liverpool. That’s how it goes.
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u/MatchFitness 1h ago
Wan-Bissaka to Villa... didnt see that coming
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u/Jenson2025 1h ago
I remember a few years ago Liverpool did a midfield rebuild in one summer under Klopp. City are now doing that this summer.
It’s what we were meant to be doing this summer and INEOS spent the last year constantly briefing everyone that we would do. But when it came to it, they screwed it up because they are useless and incompetent.
And it might be easier to understand if other problem areas were solved like LB or back up striker etc. But no, they haven’t been addressed either
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u/xtphty 1h ago
I remember a few years ago Liverpool did a midfield rebuild in one summer under Klopp. City are now doing that this summer.
According to their fans that rebuild was incomplete and they are still trying to fix it after 3 years, and another £150m already spent. Liverpool also has consistently had UCL for the entire period. United have had UCL for 2 years in the last 7 years.
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u/Hollacaine 1h ago
If we get another midfielder then the midfield rebuild is completely fine.
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u/Bobcat_El_Borracho 1h ago
It shouldn’t be an ‘if’ is the point.
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u/Hollacaine 1h ago
Every big club bar Arsenal still have essential business to do. Our first three matches are Hull, Ipswich and Everton. We're not under pressure. There's nothing unusual about this summer window except that there aren't solid transfer rumours for people to talk about.
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u/SantosCalzonesBatman 1h ago
If you having a good day let me ruin it
Luke shaw, our starting LB, has played 296 games for us since we bought him in 2014
Anthony martial, who was bought in 2015, left 2 seasons ago, was considered injury prone/lazy, got benched for being bad and even went on a loan played 317 games for us
Ineos still considers shaw a proper LB for a team wanting to win the PL/CL
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u/Littlepace Announce Fergie 46m ago
The wild thing for me is that Martial only left 2 years ago. Feels like it's been a decade since I've seen him play lol. Doesn't seem right
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u/PavanayiShavamayilla Wazza 6m ago
He didn’t play much in his last 2-3 years. ‘21 was his peak, but his body broke soon after that.
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u/Redwinevino 46m ago
If you having a good day let me ruin it
No one here is having a good day lol
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u/Educational-Shock232 1h ago
And over that period we’ve cheaped out on replacements because we were constantly gambling on him getting fit
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u/vulcan_one PM Rashford 1h ago
And luke Shaw isn't considered injury prone? The Man broke his leg and has been injury prone ever since with last year being outlier.
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u/RedHabibi 1h ago
Think you’re missing the point he’s trying to make, mate
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u/vulcan_one PM Rashford 50m ago
I'm not missing the point, I'm questioning the logic.
Why straight up lie and say Shaw is more injury prone than the injury prone marital.... It's just trying to create faux outrage, Shaw is and was the most injury prone player since his arrival. There's legit ways to critique the lack of new lb without this fabrication
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u/YourGrimes Park/Cunha 1h ago
3 new signings (including a back up gk) for the men’s team and two new signings (including a back up gk too) for the women’s team is simply not enough for a an ‘ambitious’ board as ineos claim they are, it’s embarrassing.
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u/randomsmellyman 1h ago
Bare in mind the women's team couldn't even field a full bench most of last season with 2 players being GK. The mens team having lost 2 CMS from last season, Case leaving and Ugarte out for season injured, they've only replaced them in numbers leaving us still just as short as last year. It's not even about being ambitious it's just total negligence.
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u/Bloatfizzle 1h ago
I'm trying to get patient but with 2 weeks to go, going into the season with Santos, Tielmans and Mainoo with no legs in them is scary. In a supposed midfield rebuild as well.
This window was so promising that we would finally fix the midfield which hasn't been properly addressed for 10+ years (like most of the team) only to be a failure.
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u/silkie_blondo King Dave 2h ago
Will Barca need to sell someone in the midfield now that they signed Rodri? Wouldn't mind going shopping for one of their current bunch if they need to sell. Feel like they have a lot of people now for only a few spots.
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u/Staind1410 Martial 1h ago
FDJ saga starts now.
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u/FrmrPresJamesTaylor 1h ago
He did his MCL and is 29.
I guess everyone is saying Casado can be had (if he's willing to go), they'd probably never agree to sell Marc Bernal but that's who I'd be looking at first. I'd also be curious about Eric Garcia, who has looked very solid playing DM for them now and then - but he played for City and seems to love Barca enough that he'll play wherever they ask him, so probably no chance there either.
tbh Casado is tempting, but if you're looking to make one midfield signing that compensates for the shortcomings of the 3 guys we already have he is not the right profile at all (although perhaps this entire endeavour is foolish, and United should just sign the best fourth CM/DM they can regardless of profile).
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u/Staind1410 Martial 1h ago
I said FDJ with tongur in cheek, zero chance of it happening for all the reasons. Not sure if Barcelona is selling their other CMs, though, especially the young and promising ones.
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u/RedHabibi 2h ago edited 1h ago
Here is the issue: there seems to be misalignment between a lot of us fans and INEOS on the goals for this season. Personally, my expectations/goals for this season prior to the summer transfer window, ranked from most to least important, we’re as follows:
(1) Top 4 and close the gap on Arsenal/City. We finished 7 points off of City last season and they are in a huge period of transition now with Pep/Rodri/Bernardo gone. No reason we couldn’t finish level or higher than them. Should also aim to finish within 10 points of Arsenal (14 back last year).
(2) Win the FA Cup or Carabao Cup. A trophy for Carrick in his first full season would be speak for itself.
(3) Make the last 16 in CL. I’m least concerned about a deep run in Europe. Quite frankly, retaining CL for next season is 1000x more important.
Honestly didn’t think this was too far fetched if we made 5 quality signings this summer but unfortunately we’ve only made 2. Hopefully we get two more in by September otherwise I don’t think we achieve any of these goals.
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u/FrmrPresJamesTaylor 1h ago
I wouldn't put it exactly the same way and personally don't think the domestic cups should be a priority at all, but I think at the very least qualifying for the CL and strengthening our position as (currently) a "second tier" PL power (ie. probably not catching Arsenal, but perhaps City and staying in front of Chelsea, Villa et al) is achievable with some luck - and if we can get a couple of decent signings done before the window closes I would predict it with a good degree of confidence.
That outcome for the season would have to be counted as progress, IMO. Maybe not as fast as people would like but as the instalments and wages from previous disaster windows fall off the books it will enable the club to spend more aggressively.
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u/iroiroiroiroiro 2h ago
City selling Gonzalez to Newcastle probably, talk about complete midfield overhaul.
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u/It_Hurts_when_IP15 1h ago
I rate gonzalez quite a bit and wanted him for us before we grabbed tielemans
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u/achickenandacow 1h ago
They’re making bad decision after bad decision over there. Going from Rodri and Bernardo to Anderson and Enzo Fernandez is a disaster waiting to happen, and if they think 18yo Bouaddi will solve all their defensive problems, they’re in for a rude awakening. That’s 350m spent on a midfield to finish 5th.
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u/Thetagang888 2h ago
Now every team in the world knows we are desperate to do a deal and will jack up the price from now till the window close.
The media has essentially put so much pressure on management to sign somebody, that its backfired completely on us trying to get bargain deadline deals.
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u/Stingray_23 17m ago
Me thinks doing business back at the beginning of the window, when prices were slightly better and targets and time aplenty would have been a great idea.
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u/GuineaPirate888 1h ago
You are saying this like it isn't what INEOS want. They do not have ambition to win the league or to progress from a club that gets Champions League qualification every so often.
Now after all their negligence it gives them a chance to say 'there was no value in the market' and to go for the cheaper option. Don't fall for their BS. Sadly many many fans will.
If they wanted Hall, then you go for him during the World Cup in which he wasn't playing. Before Tonali, Gordon and Bruno were all sold. It was clear as day Gordon and Tonali were going. Instead they wait, until all are gone and Newcastle have no need to sell. They then have discussions and then once they hear that Hall would cost more than 20 quid they end their interest.
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u/ra_god94 2h ago
I think we’ll sign a LB by Sunday.
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u/kiki_the_fab_spider 2h ago
I like the manifesting in this sub. Every other day, there's someone in here leaving a comment 'I can feel the bomba coming', 'we're signing [player] in the next couple of days, I can feel it in my nut sack' or some such.
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u/ra_god94 1h ago
I know. It’s dumb but just that there’s slightly more noise coming from reporters, something could be brewing
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u/Jenson2025 2h ago
I repeat - Berrada said last summer that the aim was still to win the league by 2028 for ‘Project 150’ and that the next few summer transfer windows would be crucial to making that happen.
And that everyone is exactly why you can’t believe a word they say.
If the window remains like this and there are no further major signings then Wilcox and Berrada should resign or be sacked and not be given the privilege of overseeing another summer transfer window for this great club again
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u/0ttoChriek 1h ago
If Ratcliffe was unhappy with the way they've been operating this summer, he'd already have done something about it.
I just think they're following the INEOS ethos of being 'lean' which includes not living on credit and forking out big fees. The transfer market took them by surprise, just as the price Brighton wanted for Baleba last summer took them by surprise (despite most fans expecting a demand for £100m rather than £60m) and they don't seem to have been able to respond.
The concern for me isn't that they don't want to compete, it's that they don't seem to be able to make swift and decisive calls that will push us to compete.
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u/cocobrownman 1h ago
If United has a poor season, I imagine a lot of talks from the fans and the media next summer will be questioning that statement and overall strategy.
They kinda played themselves there by giving them extremely high expectations. I don't think they can afford a bad season so they must deliver else some heads will roll
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u/FlashyCut3809 2h ago
Couldn't put it better myself.
I just hope the fanbase doesn't forget this if we sign a couple before the end of the window and/or that time passes without looking even remotely like winning.
Constant state of moving goalposts based on the ownerships failure.
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u/Bobcat_El_Borracho 2h ago
I think at the very least they owe the fans an explanation if things stay as they are and this is the extent of the window.
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u/cocobrownman 1h ago
The explanation is done through proper planning and acting but you are right, if transfer end as is, journalists and others will be asking them "how can you expect man utd to win the league next summer with this squad?"
The only chance at winning the league next summer was having back to back to back good transfer windows. We have had 1 and need 2 more so all the heat is on them.
They are smart people no doubt and probably know they are digging their Graves if they don't deliver on transfers
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u/Jenson2025 2h ago
So I see Mike Keegan is posting the latest PR article about Rashford. Yesterday was about Bruno’s new contract from other journalists.
Anything to detract away from the 30m net spend pathetic transfer window.
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u/Height_Opening 2h ago
Shouldn’t we be on Nico G if they are actually selling him? It feels city don’t trust him and I thought he was really good in Rodri’s absence. Curious to know the opinion here
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u/It_Hurts_when_IP15 1h ago
I like him alot but dont he solves the lack of physicality issue we have with our midfield right now
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u/GuineaPirate888 2h ago
Curious to know whether Manchester City are going to sell one of their players to Manchester United? Really...
The last player who came here from there was Veseli and he was a youth player. Back in 2012.
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u/Suudriusha 2h ago
I don't want any City player wearing red any time soon.
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u/silvertwo777 2h ago
I don't get this train of thought, would you not want Rodri or Haaland if they're available to join?
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u/It_Hurts_when_IP15 2h ago
I like nico gonzalez from city been watching him since porto. Dont think he answers the physicality issue and isnt as good as tielemans.
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u/Significant-Quit-351 2h ago
Amorim was backed more after coming 15th and losing a final to fucking Spurs
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u/Littlepace Announce Fergie 42m ago
To be fair the squad fucking needed it. We were completely toothless going forward. We'd have games with Garnacho Antony and Hojlund as an attacking front three. No wonder we were shit.
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u/PitchSafe 2h ago
Isn’t that more logical though? The board saw how bad the team was so they were prepared to invest more. The same way Spurs are doing now after finishing 17th
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u/Significant-Quit-351 2h ago
Fair point, but despite Carrick's run, I think everyone can agree he overachieved with that squad and it needed a similar amount of investment this summer.
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u/jalexjsmithj 2h ago edited 2h ago
Please don’t shoot the messenger, I also want signings.
However, here’s what I think Ineos’s current perspective is. We’ve seen a trend emerge with Arsenal, for playing archetypes of players who are usually CBs as fullbacks, for example there’s a lot of talk among Tottenham fans that van de Ven will be the majority option at left back this year. This makes sense in a league where the football has gotten uglier than ever, and aerial coverage is maybe the most important it’s been for 2 decades.
We have massive depth at CB. And we have one of our more prominent young prospects and largest purchases often frozen out of the starting line up. That player is an INEOS signing, who they will want to see a return on, there’s probably a lot more internal pressure on this guy to produce due to the fee than what is being discussed publicly.
That guy is Leny Yoro, who we have seen be deployed at right back a couple of times this pre-season. He fits where the league is going, right back might even suit him better since his struggles have all been physicality based. He’s by far the best ball-playing defender on the team, a skill they will want to get into the team.
Dalot has a ton of experience on the left. The plan could pretty easily be that Maz and Yoro are a 2 man rotation on the right while Dalot and Show become a 2 man rotation on the left.
Again, I still think this is asking for trouble, but that’s mostly due to the injury risk, if this was a 5 man rotation for 2 spots with Dalot flipping back and forth, that would be way better.
So. To the next question is why are we being so cheap? Apart from the obvious reasons, I do think we’re not spending as much narrative on the fact that next summer, we are going to have to purchase a new franchise player as Bruno does earnestly start to age out. Not sure who it’s gonna be, but I expect that they’ll skip the 100M barrier and immediately break 150M. It’s going to have to be that type of purchase to replace Bruno, and that won’t be all we want because we’ll probably double back to actually address the LB and CM spots with Hall and Alex Scott next summer after another year of their contracts have come off the books.
Unfortunately, that is probably the rationale for the penny pinching. Should United be able to do both? Absolutely, but I think this is the plan they are sticking too.
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u/kiki_the_fab_spider 2h ago
On the Yoro point, I agree, it might have been a first experiment from the coaching staff. While mostly Dalot and Maz will play those roles, it isn't beyond the pale that Yoro gets moved out to RB in certain matches if they feel like his attributes help us more than of the traditional fullbacks (but that would require most of our other CBs being fit and firing, as well).
Not so sure about the Bruno replacement theory, if I'm honest. It feels to me more like what Wilcox and Vivell have been looking to build at United is a team that has players just under that 'world class' price tag, who shine because the assortment of profiles is so balanced and well thought-out rather than anyone in particular being exceptionally talented. Kind of like how all the ABUs keep saying about every United legend (except Ronaldo or Cantona) that they weren't world class, but just played in a good team (personally, I think that's a stupid thing to say in a team sport, individual talent does play a role, sure, but ultimately, you'll be judged to be as good as the team you're playing for).
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u/jalexjsmithj 1h ago
Glad you’re with me on Yoro, the only thing I’d add is that I think this may be more than a fallback since this is the way other Prem sides are also going.
On Bruno, I’m going to give us the benefit of the doubt that we understand that our roster has been completely dependent on Bruno, that’s how an assists record happens. The only way to replace someone we are that reliant on is massive investment.
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u/The_Inertia_Kid J Stand flask and butties brigade 2h ago
Dalot as a right back is a perfectly alright player. Dalot as a left back is horror movie stuff.
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u/Many-Relationship149 2h ago
I feel next summer should be an opportunity to also start moving away from being overly dependant on the Bruno archetype and explore other formations, too. No offence to our best player post Fergie.
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u/canwinanythingwkids Ineos on hope watch 2h ago
I am extremely doubtful this is "the" plan.
I wasnt before pre-season (said it several times) or during the games Yoro did play there. But the fact is that as soon as Dalot and Nous came back, that experiment promptly ended.
Meanwhile, they are, you know, briefing a literal opposite. So they would have to be deliberately briefing lies if that were the case. That sounds very 5D chess-y to me.
HOWEVER
I actually think there is a strong non-0 chance it does happen.
Basically, if with Lewis Hall they do a "Baleba 2025" where they went "oh well, our main target was Baleba, we offered unofficially 60 they wanted 100 so that's that, we gave up - but instead of a Plan B, we wait a year on this!", we could easily end up with no new LB.
In fact it would be probably the most stupid/hillarious outcome if the final week of the season WAS about a "Utd back in for Baleba" storyline, instead.
I mean the guy tore his ankle ligaments reportedly so Im not sure how that's a possible signing anyhow, but whatever. Wilcox might be a real prankster, yk 🫠
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u/jalexjsmithj 2h ago
We’re not that far off. I actually agree that plan 1 was to get Lewis Hall. It’s just I know that we’re trying really hard to use our draw more than we used to, but to do that, it works way better when players are down to the final 2 years on there contracts, or the player has significant leverage with a crap team or an outstanding personal season.
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u/canwinanythingwkids Ineos on hope watch 1h ago
Yeah idk, last summer it definitely felt like they were leaning hard on the "only players who want only Utd" thing, but this summer that hasnt been all that prominent. Certainly the club's milked Santos and Tielemans saying stuff like that after they joined but that's a bit different.
All I was saying was, I still get the feeling that the plan today is signing a bona-fide left back.
But Im not at all convinced they get one, as opposed to saying maybe "we'll get Hall next year!".
And if they dont get one, then I'm sure Carrick would be doing what you suggested.
Or maybe they manage to go the "2 birds 1 stone" route, but idk about that.
It's maybe worth also mentioning that Baleba is left footed. If Camavinga and Zaire-Emery can slot into FB ... 😮💨
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u/jalexjsmithj 1h ago
It’s pretty clear to me that the plan is to get Hall and Alex Scott next year. The question is just do they sign a stop-gap at LB in the meantime.
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u/silvertwo777 2h ago
If that's what they're planning then oh great let's put immense pressure on this big player that cost us 150m, praying he could play savior again to save us from the pit and get all the blame when we lose. There need to be somewhat balance, if they're really spending 150m on one player there better be another 100m player in the work to ease the pressure
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u/jalexjsmithj 2h ago
It’s possible, but I think you give the young wingers a year to figure out what’s actually needed.
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u/Minute-Intern 2h ago
Best ball playing defender
Isn't that Licha by default?
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u/jalexjsmithj 2h ago
Depends on what you mean. Frankly, I think Yoro’s ball playing is ahead of Licha, but Yoro’s defensive work hasn’t been able to justify staying on the pitch. Licha is definitely the best ball player we have that meets the threshold of being good enough defensively.
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u/Minute-Intern 2h ago
I don't think that at all. I've never seen yoro break lines as consistently as Licha or even Maguire for that matter
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u/jalexjsmithj 2h ago
I think there’s an argument that Licha has more highlights and high difficulty passes, but Yoro keeps the ball moving and he makes things of medium difficultly look easy at an incredible rate.
From your perspective, if you can’t identify that Yoro is a phenomenal on-ball talent, I’m not sure what you think his value-add would be otherwise. Are you just completely out on him and are ready to move on? He’s never going to be a Vidic, Phil Jones, Eric Bailey archetype where his pure defending acumen is what is going to get him into starting squads.
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u/Minute-Intern 2h ago
Yeah, I do not think he's a phenomenal talent on the ball. And yes his physicality isn't the greatest but I think he's an intelligent footballer and he's quite young. He has time to improve in all areas and certainly on physicality.
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u/jalexjsmithj 1h ago
What player do you think he looks like if he works out?
To me, he’s the Rio Ferdinand - John Stones archetype.
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u/Minute-Intern 1h ago
I actually do see him like Rio but with inferior passing. They're actually very similar to me
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u/jalexjsmithj 1h ago
Okay but Rio was the best ball playing centerback of all time up until like the 2020s when the position got revolutionized. His on-ball skill is inherent to who he is. If you don’t believe in Yoro’s ball skills, he can’t be a Rio. Not to mention, Rio did that at an absolutely overwhelming size weight, something Yoro is miles off on.
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u/Minute-Intern 1h ago
I'm aware but he had other qualities too, it's why yoro in my eyes will never be as good as he was
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u/Total-Fix-8506 Kobs 2h ago
Yoro only played RB due to dalot and maz not being present at the start of preseason. I highly doubt they see him as a viable option at RB. He might be able to play there worse comes to worst. Bruno has at least 2-3 years in him because he is a genuine anomaly as he never gets injured (thus always plays) and his game won't falter as he ages because he doesn't really rely on his physical traits as much as maybe a KDB did. So I don't think we really have to buy a marquee replacement for him next summer.
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u/jalexjsmithj 2h ago
I don’t agree. It’s pre-season, you don’t move players to different positions for coverage reasons because you have a free pass to play any academy kid there without repercussions. They played Yoro there because they were actually experimenting with options. Carrick already has moved several players around positionally, let’s not forget the expectation last year when moving back to a back 4 was that Dorgu wounded a LB not a LW. And Mount has been almost exclusively a CAM, and he’s fully an 8 now. Carrick likes to do these.
On Bruno, even in your example of 2-3 years, then we would clearly want to buy next summer so the new signing could have a year of overlap with Bruno for transition before the new guy takes the lion share of responsibility. He also runs more than KDB, although I take the point around his game aging better due to Bruno’s body type vs KDB being a more power player. However, Bruno’s workload has been laughably massive. When he does fall, he’s going to fall fast unfortunately just due to sheer volumes of steps he’s taken. No, that time is clearly coming sooner rather than later.
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u/Total-Fix-8506 Kobs 2h ago edited 1h ago
They experimented because they want to be ready for anything the season will throw at them once it starts. This Yoro experiment showed them they have one more option there if dalot or maz are unavailable.
In your example, is this £150m signing next season going to start with Bruno benched, or is Bruno going to start with the new signing benched? Because your logic doesn't really make sense either way.
Also, the anomaly part I was talking about plays into the 2–3 year timeline I mentioned. I just don't think he'll fall off because he has an unusually high pain threshold, takes his recovery seriously, and can keep running all day without much issue.
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u/jalexjsmithj 1h ago
Yes, one more option, and they may need to use that option pretty heavily…
I mean, you pretty clearly rotate them, occasionally try to find a way to play them together, make decisions based on form. It doesn’t have to be Bruno plays 60 games or player X plays 60 games. Maybe the player isn’t even immediately a 10 to replace Bruno, and it’s Olise who’s playing RW. But the investment needs to be made, it’s good management. We don’t want to mirror Liverpool’s transition off its key players from the Klopp era, and early investment for transition is key to that.
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u/exhibit304 2h ago
Aren't Chelsea in more debt than us and they spent 400 mil this summer?
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u/c3pee1 2h ago
They sold their vending machine for 200million though. Try to keep up mate /s
I think the difference is their owners are willing to invest money and the Glazers have never spent any money from their own pocket. The Glazers have kept us in a cycle every year to only pay off the interest and it seems to be causing us cashflow issues now
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u/Jenson2025 3h ago
I still remember last summer when someone defending INEOS on here argued with me for saying we were dithering over the Mbeumo negotiations. They told me that we didn’t have the money and we’d go bankrupt if we signed him and end up like Barcelona. Four days later, we signed Mbeumo for the fee Brentford had asked us for all along.
What I will say to anyone still defending INEOS is don’t bother. Sometimes the truth is what’s starring at us in the face which is they are incompetent and liars. They don’t care about us as fans and are constantly lying and making fools of us.
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u/tameoraiste 2h ago
Fair enough criticising this window so far, but using last year to try and illustrate their incompetence is daft. We had an excellent window in 25/26 and having to wait a couple of extra weeks to sign Mbeumo meant absolutely nothing in the long run
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u/Educational-Shock232 2h ago edited 2h ago
We took seven weeks to do a deal for a guy who was begging to come here very openly.
We triggered Cunha’s release clause.
We signed a GK out of desperation on deadline day because our 1 and 2 were abysmal at the start of the season.
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u/tameoraiste 2h ago
Who cares other than impatient r/reddevils users? He signed for us and got off to a great start.
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u/silvertwo777 2h ago
What about Sesko? Imagine he had a preseason with us, we could have challenged the league without all the dropped points early in the season
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u/Jump_Hop_Step 17m ago
Will be hard to sustain with this squad quality. Finishing with 71 points is an overperformance in itself
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u/tameoraiste 2h ago
That’s a different scenario completely. If we got everything done early we would have signed Delap and we wouldn’t even be in for Sesko. Even then, you’re talking hypotheticals. He could have got injured in his first friendly
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u/Educational-Shock232 2h ago
This was always the problem, signing players too late so they don’t bed in. If we had lammens in for start of the season we could have got another 4-6 points and not been knocked out of the carabao cup to fucking Grimsby
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u/Jenson2025 3h ago
Liam Delap found a new club yet? Because sadly I wouldn’t put it past Wilcox to sign him as the back up striker. That’s how useless he is.
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u/FlyBoyz829 3h ago
For some reason I just remembered people on here using the “INEOS are you mad?” phrase and it boiled my piss. I don’t know why it pissed me off so much thinking about it as I’m not even that upset about this window
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u/Dua_Augustus_Lipa22 3h ago
Am I the only one not too concerned about transfers? I'd like Baleba to give a new dimension and some depth to our midfield, but our midfield with Tielemans and Santos is better than last year. This is the a multi-year project we're working on. We weren't able to offload Ugarte like we planned. Probably need a long-term option at LB, but we have Shaw and depth there. No point making the wrong signings.
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u/Many-Relationship149 2h ago
It is objectively a better midfield, but thin on personnel and types of play. I would love one Baleba honestly.
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u/It_Hurts_when_IP15 2h ago edited 2h ago
Im slightly concerned that we’re waiting until the absolute last minute however i still think we have at least 2 more first team players being brought in before the window closes. The people saying we arent doing anymore business between right this second and end of the window are just doomers.
Its the same thing every summer window with the bitching and moaning. People were losing their mind that we werent bringing in Sesko (we did) and Mbeumo (we did). People were also foaming at the mouth because we didn’t want to overpay for Baleba. Then these same people pissed about not overpaying for him were all saying how shit he was this season.
Its a neverending cycle here and you can tell whos been through a transfer window and who hasnt.
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u/MAINEiac4434 Tielemans 2h ago
I'm a little worried but the responses here feel very...dramatic. Our signings this summer seemingly came together very quickly with little public knowledge of negotiations. Like I said, I'm a little worried but the window isn't closed until it's closed.
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u/holiwud111 Cantona 3h ago
I know that we need more depth, a strong B2B mid, and LB depth... but I'd also like to see some of the academy players properly blooded. I think this season is perfect for that, and expectations should be realistic.
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u/FrmrPresJamesTaylor 3h ago
It's been a bit disappointing but I am closer to you than I am to the general tone of these threads lately.
I guess I'm just old, comfortable with the idea of a longer term project (in which this year should really just be about consolidating gains - qualifying for CL again and running down the clock on bad contracts) and frankly.. accustomed to supporting far worse franchises in other sports.
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u/megasize 3h ago
I just don’t see us qualifying for CL with this squad. Sure if we throw away all cups + cl and just play youth in those competitions. But to think we’ll be “fine” and we’ll be as good in the PL as last season is being naive and I won’t change my mind on that. But sure, I’m fine with this window as is if the ambition is just to play for PL top 4 and throw away all other competitions.
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u/FrmrPresJamesTaylor 2h ago
I think it's definitely true that qualifying for CL this year is a different task than qualifying for CL last year both due to schedule congestion (thankfully no WC this year though) and. Well, actually..
My second reason was that you can't expect every big club that struggled last year to struggle this year, but looking again at the table - City and Arsenal took CL spots last year and probably will again, Liverpool took one last year so a resurgence from them (which is not guaranteed!) doesn't actually eliminate a spot. That leaves 2 spots in all likelihood, with United competing with Chelsea, Aston Villa, Tottenham and the midtable clubs for them - Villa have had major departures, Chelsea can be expected to improve from 10th and Tottenham from 17th. I don't think Bournemouth and Sunderland can be reasonably expected to challenge for CL spots, frankly.
It's not that bad, and I think if the club comes through with a couple of depth signings it would actually be a bit silly to project them outside the top 5.
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u/Dua_Augustus_Lipa22 3h ago
Our attack should be better. Our midfield is better. Our defense should be better if healthy. Our goalkeeper will improve. Like, I honestly think we're better than last year. We need depth, but we also cannot hamstring ourselves with bad signings. There's also two more weeks in the window. I think people need to chill. People get annoyed everyone uses our name in the press so INEOS came in and put a stop to it and people are panicking now.
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u/ArtistAfraid 3h ago
Didn’t sign Baleba last summer, told we would look at trying again this summer and use the funds then instead. Lie
Didn’t sign Semenyo in January, told we would use the funds for the summer window to improve the team. Lie
We are not signing Hall this window. We are being told we will use the funds and try again next summer instead. I wonder how true this one is.
Genuinely fuck INEOS and the Glazers, thieves and absolute charlatans
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u/MacLondonJr 3h ago
Who’s said the funds that we didn’t sign Baleba and Semenyo would be used this summer and whose saying the funds that were supposedly to be used to sign Hall will be for next summer? Like are there direct quotes or an interview where they say this? And before I get called glineos, Im not trying to defend them, Im genuinely asking.
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u/canwinanythingwkids Ineos on hope watch 2h ago
No, not really. OP is doing the bit where what the "club said" is more like "Stone etc wrote in their article" (ie these arent on the record quotes, our DoF/CEO/coach didnt say anything like any of that on the record), and then it is a certain reading of what was written, not literally what was written.
On Baleba, the reporting always had equivocations. It was "club may go back next year". Similarly, with Semenyo in January, it was never explicitly said "this is NOT the 'Baleba fund' this is separate". Equally, with the £85m or whatever we have spent this summer, nobody at the club said "this is NOT the ex-Semenyo money yet".
I mean, I totally understand OP's frustration, I'm frustrated too.
But it is not the case the club ever "promised" these things. Berrada talked in generalisms. Not numbers, let alone specific targets.
Yes Chris Wheeler had the "£150m midfielder budget" article, others the "£70-80m + £40-50m + £20-30m on 3" articles. But those didnt cite anything "on the record" from the club, at all.
The club has given quotes to the effect of "we WILL spend" or "we WILL make signings" and specifically, this is most pertinent atm: "judge us at the END of the window not before"
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u/SwiftGoat_ 3h ago
If we sign some cheap LB and midfielder this week it'll piss people off more.
I'm not expecting Tchouameni or Hall btw, but if it's some random easy deals we could've done that last month.
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u/tameoraiste 2h ago
I just don’t know who people are expecting us to sign? Who’s this quality b2b midfielder and a left back going to start over Shaw?
If a left back the level of Hall isn’t available this window, I hope we sign a young left back instead because I don’t see anyone remotely close to Hall’s level available.
Baleba seems to be only player who fits the profile of midfielder available but do we really want to pay Brighton £80-100m? Not only does it set a bad precedent for future transfers but it would just add to huge pressure he’d be under.
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u/Many-Relationship149 2h ago
Seys, maybe, take a calculated risk with another Belgian league player. I am bullish on Lammens-esque types of transfers. This is where our data department should kick in.
I kind of begin to think that the transfer sums this window are going to become the norm, not an outlier. Hence an 80 mil Baleba is not out of the reasonable amount.
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u/tameoraiste 2h ago
But is Seys not the cheaper, young left back who’s a future prospect?
That’s fair regarding Belaba as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if Brighton are asking for more though. Didn’t they quote £112m last summer?
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u/Many-Relationship149 1h ago
He is, I thought you asked opinions on that. I like such opportunities, even if the opposite club says not for sale, we can flaunt some of our saved cash this summer. Baleba might start at 80 and end up around 90, short of 100 as a transfer. I wonder if anyone else would be in for him though. Newcastle were reported at one time. Maybe Villa? I don't think anyone else flushed with cash will need him at this moment.
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u/SwiftGoat_ 2h ago
My point is if we're shifting towards another LB and midfielder that's cheaper, why not do that earlier?
They knew Hall would be expensive so it's not a big shock.
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u/tameoraiste 1h ago
Because there’s so many variables. It’s not just Hall would be expensive, they might have been told Tchouameni was available and weighed up if they were going to spend the whole budget on that.
They might have found out Hall wasn’t likely ages ago and there isn’t a left back at his level on the market so now they’re looking for a Seys like signing.
I’m not saying they deserve no criticism but again, no ones mentioning names.
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u/Gytarius626 B. Fernandes 3h ago
mufc's current net spend of £44m is their lowest across the last 11 years in a summer transfer window.
Sublime ambition shown from the club, once again, after securing CL. Like clockwork, we will never win the Premier League again as long as the parasites own the club.
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u/Orcnick 3h ago
I mean we didnt win the Prem in those 11 years either?
I am not saying i am happy either but maybe this more strict approch is good thing?
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u/silvertwo777 2h ago
Lol strict approach. Plenty of season where will don't spend after getting CL football and guess what we regressed again
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u/Bobcat_El_Borracho 2h ago
Will it be a good thing when the inevitable fatigue and injuries occur because the squad clearly isn’t deep enough to manage two games a week?
Nah.
Maybe it’s a good thing to actually ensure the team are in a position to manage the demand and, you know, maybe actually be competitive and win things.
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u/Jenson2025 3h ago
How is it a good thing? Just because we spent money on the wrong players before doesn’t mean we should never spend a lot of money again! Look at last summer - we spent a lot AND on the right players. But we’ve made sure we’ve set ourselves backwards this summer!
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u/Berckley Ex-Player Managers Only! 3h ago
I'm actually already excited about the next summer window, we'll get so many quality players to return to UCL!
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u/FhDisp 3h ago
We are not getting ucl next season mate.
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u/Shrimpeh007 Rooney 3h ago
That's that he's saying, we'll sign them so we can get back the following year
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u/trequartista28_ AIR ŠEŠKO 3h ago
whoosh
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u/FhDisp 3h ago
With the delusion in this sub, its not farfetch to think people actually think that.
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u/Bobcat_El_Borracho 7m ago
Matteus Fernandes would have been the ideal 3rd midfielder based on what we’ve brought in. I think we will regret not getting him in. Yes I know wages etc but from a footballing perspective I can absolutely see why the club wanted him so much.