Honestly, trying to keep up with the Manchester United transfer rumors 2025 cycle feels a bit like trying to read a map in a hurricane. Just when you think the club has a settled direction under the INEOS era, everything shifts. We’re currently sitting in January 2026, looking back at a 2025 that was, frankly, chaotic. If you were following the headlines last summer, you’d have seen a club that spent over £230 million on the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo, only to watch Ruben Amorim depart and Michael Carrick step in as interim boss.
It’s wild.
Right now, the vibe at Old Trafford is "cautious but desperate." Carrick just masterminded a 2-0 win over Manchester City—thanks to goals from Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu—but the squad is still full of holes. The January 2026 window is open, and the rumors are flying, but they are heavily shaped by what happened (and didn't happen) throughout 2025.
The midfield "Dream" vs. The reality of the bank account
One of the biggest Manchester United transfer rumors 2025 left us with was the pursuit of a world-class "six." Everyone knows the names by now. Carlos Baleba from Brighton. Adam Wharton from Palace. Elliot Anderson from Forest.
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The problem? Brighton wanted over £100 million for Baleba last summer. United balked. Now, reports suggest the club is getting "increasingly confident" that the price for Baleba will drop this summer. Why? Because his form dipped slightly and he’s another year into his deal. But if you’re expecting a massive January splash, you might want to temper those expectations. The club is basically broke after the summer spree.
What’s actually on the table right now?
- Ruben Neves: This is the big one for the current January window. Reports from Fichajes claim a €23 million offer is on the table to Al-Hilal. He’s 28, knows the league, and wants out of Saudi Arabia. It feels like a "safe" move, but is it the "United" move?
- Marcos Llorente: The Guardian is reporting interest in the Atletico Madrid man. He’s 30, valued at £30 million, and provides that engine Carrick supposedly wants.
- The De Jong Ghost: Jaap Stam recently came out and called Frenkie de Jong the "dream" signing. We’ve heard this every year since 2022. Honestly, until I see him holding the shirt at Carrington, I’m treating this as background noise.
The great 2025 exodus: Who actually left?
To understand where the money is going, you have to look at who went out the door. The 2025 summer window was a bloodbath for the "old guard." Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof are gone. Jonny Evans retired and took a job as head of loans.
But the real shockers?
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- Marcus Rashford joined Barcelona on loan.
- Alejandro Garnacho made a permanent move to Chelsea (which still feels wrong to see in print).
- Antony finally left for Real Betis.
- Rasmus Hojlund is currently at Napoli on loan.
Basically, the club hit the "reset" button so hard the console almost broke. This leaves the current squad looking incredibly young and, at times, a bit thin. The rumors about 2025 were often about "clearing the wage bill," and for once, the club actually did it.
Defense and the Pierre Kalulu links
If you’ve been scrolling through Italian media lately, you’ve probably seen Pierre Kalulu’s name linked with a €30 million move to Old Trafford. Juventus have him, but United are reportedly "locked in a battle" with Spurs and Villa for his signature.
With Harry Maguire’s contract winding down and interest coming from Inter Milan and Roma, a new center-back isn't just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Maguire is 32 now. He’s done well under Carrick's early days, but the writing is on the wall. United need pace. Kalulu has it.
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What most people get wrong about the 2025/26 strategy
There is a massive misconception that United will just "buy their way out" of this transition period. They can't. The Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) are breathing down their necks. This is why you see rumors about Ruben Loftus-Cheek being "offered" to the club on a loan-to-buy deal.
The strategy has shifted. Instead of overpaying for "stars" in their prime, the recruitment team—led by Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox—is looking at market opportunities and younger profiles like Morten Hjulmand. Hjulmand was an Amorim target, and while Amorim is gone, the scouting reports remain. He has a "release clause pact" at Sporting that could see him move for around €50 million this summer.
Actionable insights for the rest of the window
If you're a fan or just a degenerate follower of the transfer market, here is what you need to watch over the next 14 days:
- Monitor the Loan Market: United are more likely to bring in a stop-gap on loan (like the Loftus-Cheek rumors) than drop £70 million on a permanent signing this month.
- Watch the "Out" Door: Toby Collyer is heading to Hull City on loan. If more youngsters like Harry Amass or Jack Moorhouse leave, it’s a sign Carrick is trimming the fat to make room for one experienced arrival.
- The Manager Factor: Until a permanent successor to Amorim is named (with Oliver Glasner being the current betting favorite), the big "marquee" signings will likely wait until the summer of 2026.
The Manchester United transfer rumors 2025 cycle was about survival and shedding weight. 2026 is going to be about finding an identity under a new boss. For now, keep an eye on those Ruben Neves links—it’s the most "real" thing on the horizon.