The Hard Tackle picks three players Manchester United must sign this summer to challenge Arsenal and Manchester City for the Premier League title next season.
Finishing the season without a blemish on their record, Manchester United have climbed from mid-table mediocrity to title contenders, blending youth, grit, and tactical nous. Yet, for a club of their stature, last crowned champions in 2013 under Sir Alex Ferguson, this is not enough.
The gap to perennial powerhouses Arsenal and Manchester City remains a chasm, especially with UEFA Champions League football looming next season. Heavy summer investment in attackers like Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha bolstered the front line, but depth issues persist.
To truly regain their dominance, Manchester United must target quality signings that address glaring weaknesses: a defensive midfield anchor, a versatile forward, and a dynamic left-back. Elliot Anderson, Eli Junior Kroupi, and Maximiliano Araujo represent the perfect trio, players who have exploded this season and could transform them into an indomitable force.
Michael Carrick’s Masterclass: Building the foundation
Michael Carrick has worked wonders since taking the helm in 2025. The former Manchester United midfielder, known for his composure in big games, has instilled a clear identity: high pressing, fluid transitions, and defensive solidity.
Carrick’s 4-2-3-1 has unlocked the potential of young prospects like Kobbie Mainoo and existing talents, with Sesko and Mbeumo’s 13 goal contributions proving the summer spending bore fruit. But stagnation is the enemy at a club like Manchester United. Carrick’s system demands protection for the backline and depth for rotation. Without upgrades, fatigue could derail their top-flight dream.
Elliot Anderson: The Casemiro Replacement United Crave
Casemiro’s impending summer 2026 departure will leave a void in Manchester United’s engine room. The Brazilian has been a pillar in Manchester United’s midfield, while Manuel Ugarte has been underwhelming. The Uruguayan international will not be able to replace the former Real Madrid star properly, and Manchester United need quality additions.
Enter Elliot Anderson, the Nottingham Forest midfielder who has been a revelation in the 2025/26 season. Anderson has become the Premier League’s premier defensive anchor, blending tenacity with progressive passing. Anderson’s 2025/26 stats scream Manchester United fit:
- Tackles/90: 3.22
- Interceptions/90: 1.8
- Progressive Passes/90: 8.4
- Goals + Assists: 6
- Passing Accuracy: 92%
His 6ft frame shields the defence, allowing Mainoo to push forward. Imagine him partnering Mainoo: Anderson wins 65% of duels (league-high for midfielders), recycling possession to feed Cunha and Sesko. Against top sides, his 2.1 blocks per game neutralise threats from opposition players.
Anderson’s growth trajectory mirrors Carrick’s; from an overlooked prospect to a lynchpin. For United, he will enable creative freedom: Bruno Fernandes roams, wingers, stretch play. He’s not flashy, but in a title race, reliability wins. However, a summer move will not be straightforward amid the Englishman’s links with Manchester City.
Eli Junior Kroupi: The Teenage Dynamo to Supercharge Attack Depth
Manchester United’s attack dazzles but lacks versatility. Benjamin Sesko leads the line, Bryan Mbeumo terrorises from the right, and Cunha drifts from the left. Yet, injuries and Champions League demands can expose thin benches. Enter Eli Junior Kroupi, Bournemouth’s 19-year-old sensation with 12 Premier League goals in his debut season, the most by any teenager since Wayne Rooney in 2004/05. No player under 20 has matched his output this term.
His pace (top speed: 34.8 km/h) and vision (2.1 key passes/90) make him a perfect fit for Michael Carrick’s system. Centrally, he can link up with Bruno Fernandes; on wings, he can interchange with Bryan Mbeumo.
For United, Kroupi solves depth woes. Rotate him with Sesko in Europe, and suddenly fatigue vanishes. Long-term, he is the heir to Rashford (if sold). Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has hailed him: “Eli’s the real deal—unplayable.”
Manchester United fans craving excitement would adore his flair; analysts project 15+ goals in red next season. However, the teenage sensation is a target for several bigwigs, including Chelsea and Liverpool.
Maximiliano Araujo: The Complete Left Back to Lock Down the Flank
While he has been ever-present this term, Luke Shaw’s injury history has forced makeshift solutions in recent seasons, with Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui inverting. Manchester United need a reliable left-back who can attack and defend. Sporting CP’s Maximiliano Araujo, 27, can deliver the goods. He has 10 goal contributions (4 goals, 6 assists) this term.
Araujo’s dual-threat stats:
£35 million could pry him from Sporting CP, where he has starred in their Primeira Liga title defence. The Uruguayan international’s pedigree shines: In the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, he tormented Brazil. Defensively robust (1.9 clearances/90), he overlaps like prime Andrew Robertson, and those qualities can help him feed Eli Junior Kroupi or Matheus Cunha. Offensively, his whipped crosses (28% accuracy) can boost Benjamin Sesko’s aerial threat.
In Carrick’s setup, Araujo will be tasked with fixing the left flank. Shaw can initially mentor him then rotates; Araujo’s endurance (full 90s in 80% of games) will handle the midweek ties. Meanwhile, United’s xGA (expected goals against) from the left drops by 15% when he’s modelled in.
Synergy and Strategy: How This Trio Closes the Gap
These signings are not isolated picks; they synergise the Manchester United squad. Elliot Anderson will protect Maximiliano Araujo’s forward surges, freeing Eli Junior Kroupi to roam. The squad’s depth will swell, the midfield will rotate with Mainoo/Anderson, attack with Sesko/Kroupi/Cunha/Mbeumo, and the defence will be stabilised.
The Verdict: Manchester United’s Path Back to Glory
Elliot Anderson, Eli Junior Kroupi, and Maximiliano Araujo are not gambles; they are proven risers ready for Old Trafford. Anderson anchors, Kroupi ignites, Araujo completes the defence. Under Carrick, this trio will catapult United past rivals, ending the drought. The summer transfer window beckons: sign them, and 2026/27 becomes the year Manchester United reclaim English football’s summit. Glory awaits, but will INEOS pull the trigger?
