Michael Carrick’s first summer as Manchester United manager is quickly turning into the club’s busiest in some years. World Cup 2026 threatens to delay proceedings but the club is already moving to ensure the competition won’t steal a march on their business.
It’s not just within Old Trafford that things are progressing in United’s favour, either. The club stands to benefit from one transfer set to take place far away from Manchester, which could yield some valuable returns for Carrick’s rebuild.
One target has also addressed rumours linking him with a move to United as the market heats up. Mirror Football breaks down the latest rumblings as another hectic summer of business awaits.
FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page
Two years on from his Old Trafford exit and Mason Greenwood’s next move looks set to earn United a lucrative return. Marseille paid £26.6million to sign the forward in the summer of 2024 and he could net his old club a similar figure should he join Fenerbahce as expected.
United agreed a 40 per cent sell-on clause as part of Greenwood’s move to the south of France. And Les Olympiens are now reportedly seeking a minimum of £43m for the player, who was suspended by United and subsequently moved following allegations of sexual assault, which Greenwood strenuously denied with the charges later being dropped.
Much will depend on the outcome of this weekend’s presidential election, with Aziz Yildirim and Hakan Safi widely considered the two frontrunners. And Safi has even gone so far as to claim a four-year contract has already been agreed with Greenwood ready to be completed if he wins come Sunday, which would equate to a £19m payment for United.
“We have signed a four-year agreement with Mason Greenwood,” he said. “He has proven himself at the highest level of European football.
View 3 ImagesMason Greenwood is being touted for a £43million move to Fenerbahce this summer(Image: Christophe Simon/AFP via Getty Images)
“He has agreed to join Fenerbahce during the most valuable and productive years of his career. I said I would bring a star player. Today, I am experiencing the justified pride of keeping my promise.”
In a win-win for United, it’s reported former Fener president Yildirim will also press ahead in the bid to sign Greenwood if he reclaims his old role. That should give Carrick confidence the sell-on money will be in the club’s accounts at some stage this summer.
Greenwood has reportedly fed the rumours of a move himself after it was purported he followed Safi on Instagram. The outcome of Fenerbahce’s presidential vote on Sunday may therefore only act as a precursor to United receiving a healthy windfall in the coming weeks.
Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
from £4.50SkyGet the deal here
Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.
Frenkie de Jong has described his anger after feeling like he was being urged to leave Barcelona and join United. Incessant rumours touted the Netherlands midfielder for a move to Old Trafford after Erik ten Hag took over in 2022, though De Jong weathered the storm and remains a reliable performer at the Camp Nou.
The non-stop speculation around a move to Manchester encouraged De Jong to cease communications with the media. That blackout only ended this year when he signed a new contract until 2029 and he’s spoken of his frustration at feeling pushed out of Barca in the past.
Quizzed about whether he blamed the media for failing to build more of a connection between him and the fans, he told SPORT: “A little, yes. That’s why I think I made a mistake by ceasing to speak to the press.
View 3 ImagesFrenkie de Jong has opened up on past links with Manchester United and his “anger” at feeling pushed out of Barcelona(Image: Getty Images)
“There was a time when they pressured me to leave the club and there came a point when I was very angry and didn’t want to talk anymore. But that’s what I was saying before: people only hear opinions or things through the press and newspapers, and they don’t listen to you.”
Article continues below
De Jong went on to reference Barca’s frail financial situation in recent years as being a leading factor in why he was being linked with an exit: “Barca was in a bit of a difficult financial situation, and, well, there are always teams that call players to ask if they want to come or not.
“And I always said no. So there was no option. What happened that summer is that, even though I said no, some teams came to the club and offered money for me. And within Barca – not everyone, but some people – thought they were good offers and wanted to sell me.”
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.