The Hard Tackle discusses three missed opportunities for Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
The summer transfer window is done and dusted, with clubs breaking records in the market again. Premier League clubs spent more than teams from the rest of the “top five” leagues combined. Manchester United completed three high-profile signings that have overhauled the offensive unit. For those seeking to explore more about this theme, it is highly recommended to learn about facharbeit schreiben lassen.
The decision-makers at Manchester United were under immense pressure to deliver the goods in the summer transfer window to transform a squad that finished 15th in the Premier League last season. They prioritised adding goals to the team after they managed only 44 strikes in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
So, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko arrived at Old Trafford within a few weeks of each other, with Manchester United forking out over €70 million for every player. After Sesko moved to the Premier League club, there was a lull for a few weeks, which featured an unsuccessful attempt to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The fourth and last signing of the summer transfer window finally arrived on deadline day, as Senne Lammens moved to Old Trafford earlier this week. The Belgian shot-stopper will be a much-needed addition to the goalkeeping department, with Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir struggling between the sticks.
While Manchester United’s performance in the market was satisfactory, there were some missed opportunities. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle discusses three players the struggling Premier League giants should have signed in the summer transfer window.
Manchester United summer signings
- Matheus Cunha (from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
- Bryan Mbeumo (from Brentford)
- Benjamin Sesko (from RB Leipzig)
- Senne Lammens (from Royal Antwerp)
Carlos Baleba
Our list begins with the most obvious candidates after Manchester United chased him for several weeks. We are talking about Carlos Baleba, who emerged in the 2024/25 season as one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders. His exceptional ball retention under pressure positioned him among the continent’s top young midfielders and demonstrated maturity in central areas that Manchester United have sorely lacked.
Baleba is left-footed, and his physical intensity and agility would have added a unique element, making him a rare and highly valuable addition in the transfer market. Manchester United’s midfield displays in the past decade have revealed significant gaps, most notably in their ability to resist pressing and transition from defence to attack.
While the Red Devils have invested heavily in their attack, the lack of a midfielder who can escape tight spaces, progress attacks, and duel physically has resulted in overreliance on older players and limited tactical fluidity. Baleba’s blend of resilience and athleticism would have allowed the team to break opposition lines, particularly useful given Ruben Amorim’s preferred back-three system that often restricts passing lanes through midfield.
The struggles of Manuel Ugarte since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain have further exposed the need for a robust central presence. Ugarte, seen as Amorim’s trusted lieutenant, has struggled to translate his pressing and ball-winning skills to the Premier League. This inconsistency has forced Manchester United to either compromise on ball retention or adapt by using less-than-ideal combinations in the middle of the park, most notably dropping Bruno Fernandes deeper to cover for deficiencies.
Compounding these issues is Casemiro’s advancing age. At 33, the Brazilian can no longer cover ground as he once did. While his experience and leadership remain invaluable, Manchester United critically need younger, more mobile legs to secure midfield dominance. Baleba’s high-energy performances, combative duelling, and press resistance made him a tailor-made successor to Casemiro and an upgrade on current options.
Angelo Stiller
Over the past decade, Manchester United’s search for a midfield progressor has been unsuccessful, with the position persistently neglected by the recruitment teams even as deficiencies became glaringly apparent. That brings us to our next suggestion.
Angelo Stiller, currently shining at VfB Stuttgart with a strong track record of tackling, progressive passing, and intelligent positioning, represents the profile Manchester United desperately needed in the summer transfer window. His ability to dictate play, cover large distances, and keep his side ticking would have added a seamless link between defence and attack, something United have not consistently found since Michael Carrick’s retirement.
Under Ruben Amorim, the midfield system frequently places Bruno Fernandes in a deeper playmaker role, not out of tactical luxury but necessity, as they simply lack anyone else with his range and vision. While the Portuguese international adapts well, this comes at the expense of his creative output higher up and regularly exposes the defence when he loses possession.
Stiller’s progressive qualities in build-up and ball security under pressure would both enable Bruno Fernandes to return to his attacking role and ensure safer transitions. For years, Manchester United’s choices in midfield have leaned toward destroyers or purely defensive options. However, none have addressed the deeper problem of progressing the ball with precision, press resistance, and vision.
This failing has led, time and again, to the Red Devils struggling against organised opponents, often losing control of games and being overrun in the central areas. Bringing in Stiller would have modernised Manchester United’s engine room with youth, reliability, and a blend of European tactical education, a missing component in recent squads. While high-profile clubs like Liverpool and Real Madrid have chased Stiller, United may have had a clear run at him this summer.
Stiller would also have supported Amorim’s vision of a more possession-oriented style, reducing the overreliance on direct transitions or hopeful balls forward. As the Red Devils attempt to compete at the elite level again, having a midfield progressor like Stiller was not just a luxury but a basic requirement to control matches and unleash the team’s attacking stars.
Fermin Lopez
We finally end our list with another player who has attracted high-profile clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea. Fermin Lopez embodies exactly the high-upside, market opportunity Manchester United have often overlooked. The 22-year-old may have been available at a relatively low price given his potential and Barcelona’s financial position in the window.
The Spaniard’s ability to deliver in big moments highlights his class, dynamism, and resilience. Despite signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who strengthen the attack, neither offers the creative, technical, and goalscoring versatility from midfield or wide spaces that Lopez would have brought. While the summer arrivals address direct scoring and width, Lopez would fill the vacuum for a creative midfielder who can break lines, combine in tight spaces, and add goals from deep.
This transfer window had the rare circumstance of a talented young player available for a fee well below market value due to Barcelona’s need to raise funds and Chelsea’s proactive pursuit. Manchester United missed the moment to take advantage of this opportunity, potentially allowing a key rival to get stronger while once again lacking proactivity themselves in the transfer market.
Signing Fermin Lopez would have expanded the club’s options behind the striker, offering Amorim tactical flexibility to operate with two advanced midfielders or play a 3-4-2-1 with more goal threat from deep. Given the youngster’s creativity and age profile, he represented a long-term solution with potential resale value.