Manchester United bolstered their squad with five new additions during the recent summer transfer window, but according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, the club fell short of their goal in securing an additional attacking player, with a specific target slipping through their grasp after an unsuccessful bid.
The summer signings helped strengthen key positions across the team as manager Erik ten Hag aimed to build on last season’s FA Cup triumph and prepare the squad for their return to Champions League football. One of the standout signings was Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, who joined United from Bologna for a reported fee of £36.5 million. The addition of Zirkzee brought more firepower to the squad as Ten Hag looked to improve his attacking options.
Another significant move saw United beat out Real Madrid to secure the services of highly-rated French defender Leny Yoro from Lille. The club paid £52 million for Yoro, further enhancing their defensive depth.
Additionally, United made a double swoop for Bayern Munich defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, bringing them to Old Trafford for a combined £50 million. These defensive acquisitions underlined Ten Hag’s intent to tighten up the backline while also adding versatility to the squad.
On the final day of the transfer window, United completed the signing of Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain. Ugarte, a promising talent, joined for an initial fee of £42 million, adding much-needed depth to the midfield as the team prepared for the demands of a long season across multiple competitions.
Despite these successful acquisitions, Manchester United couldn’t land all of their transfer targets. One of the key players they missed out on was Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons, a Netherlands international who had been a priority for the club. Simons, who scored against England in the Euro 2024 tournament during a 2-1 defeat, had attracted United’s attention as a potential attacking addition.
However, despite United’s interest, Simons opted for a move back to the Bundesliga, after spending time at PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig on loan. He initially joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in 2022, but instead of a move to the Premier League, he decided to return to Germany this summer.
Romano reported that Manchester United had initiated discussions regarding Simons’ availability before the European Championships, but the player chose to continue his career in the Bundesliga. Although the deal didn’t materialize, there remains a possibility that Simons could move to England in the future. Romano noted that there’s still a chance United could target him again, potentially in the summer of 2025, leaving the door open for a future transfer to Old Trafford.
As things stand, Manchester United are in 10th place in the Premier League after their first four games of the season. The team showed strong form in their recent fixtures, securing a convincing 3-0 win away at Southampton, followed by an emphatic 7-0 victory over Barnsley in the League Cup, marking the largest margin of victory under Ten Hag’s tenure.
Barnsley’s manager was left dejected after the heavy loss, while United will look to build on this momentum. Their next match is against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, and United will aim for back-to-back wins in the Premier League.
While the team missed out on Xavi Simons, the new signings have injected fresh talent into the squad, and Ten Hag will be looking to capitalize on these acquisitions as Manchester United pushes forward in their campaign.