'Transfer approach will differ' next season
[BBC] Central midfield is the priority area to strengthen at Manchester United. Nottingham Forest's Elliott Anderson is the number one target. But the feeling at Old Trafford is the approach this summer will differ significantly from what went on under previous regimes in two aspects.
Firstly, it has been stressed, the club will not overpay. If the price for Anderson, who is also coveted by Manchester City amongst others, is £120m, United won't pursue. Every player's value has a cap, no matter how well regarded they are.
Secondly, they intend to avoid getting drawn into protracted negotiations before switching after the season has started, which is exactly how Casemiro ended up at Old Trafford in 2022 after Erik ten Hag's lengthy pursuit of Frenkie de Jong ended in failure. It is fairly obvious but still being reinforced that United's recruitment team have multiple options. If Anderson is a no, the club's hierarchy feel there will be alternatives who can improve what they already have.
Read more from Simon on Man Utd's summer The signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha last summer are used as a template and evidence quality players can be attracted. United know their squad needs to expand to cope with the demands of a season that could contain 50% more games than the current 40-match campaign. It is accepted not every signing will be a success but the strategy is aimed at avoiding paying huge sums and handing out over inflated contracts that are so difficult to extricate the club from and, through the likes of Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana, are a legacy United are still to escape.
There is also a recognition that while some players - Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are the obvious examples - may struggle to play more than they have this season, others such as Noussair Mazraoui, have not played enough. Ayden Heaven has excelled in central defence and there is a feeling he can play more often next season. Matthijs de Ligt might be out with a back injury but once fit, there is a belief he too can cope with the rigours of a more arduous season.