Manchester United are targeting signing four high-profile players as part of their ambitious transfer plans for next summer, according to a report.
Erik ten Hag's side had a busy and expensive summer at Old Trafford, with the club, now under the guidance of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co, forking out around £180m on new signings during the transfer window.
The Red Devils fended off interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool to secure the signature of Leny Yoro early in the window shortly before agreeing a deal for Netherlands international Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.
Thereafter, United secured the double-signing of Bayern Munich defensive duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, and capped off their summer business with the acquisition of Manuel Ugarte on deadline day from Paris Saint-Germain.
Despite their significant expenditure ahead of the 2024-25 season, United are seemingly already preparing to be active again next summer, and have already identified key positions to bolster.
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Man United lining up four new signings next summer
Manchester Evening News report that Man United's main priority is to sign a new winger, with Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze currently featuring at the top of the club's shortlist of potential candidates.
It is understood that Eze's £65m release clause is expected to reactivate next summer, which could pave the way for his potential departure from Selhurst Park.
While United have brought in defensive reinforcements in the form of De Ligt, Mazraoui and Yoro, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof's futures at the club are uncertain, and Harry Maguire is now in the final 12 months of his current deal.
In the event one or more of Evans, Lindelof and Maguire depart Old Trafford at the end of the season, the Red Devils will need to bolster their options, and the report adds that Jarrad Branthwaite is the club's primary defensive target.
The Everton star was strongly linked with a move to Manchester this summer but United were unwilling to meet the Toffees' £73m valuation of the 22-year-old centre-back.
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Additional reinforcements expected at Old Trafford next season
Aside from the two Englishmen, United are also believed to be eyeing up a new central midfielder and a left-back.
In midfield, Ten Hag's side currently have Casemiro as the starting holding midfielder and Christian Eriksen as an alternative, but the Brazilian has come under major criticism of late while the Dane is into the final year of his contract.
As a result, the club is reportedly considering a move for France international Adrien Rabiot, who is currently a free agent, but the former Juventus man is asking for around £8.5m in wages, which is an amount that the Red Devils are believed to view as too expensive to pursue for the 29-year-old.
Finally, United are also said to be in search of a specialist left-back, given that Tyrell Malacia's knee injury has kept him out for nearly 15 months and Luke Shaw is still recovering from a calf strain.
Devesh Jaganath
