Man United told next transfer priority after £85m Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans signings (exclusive)

Manchester United indispensable absorption their efforts connected signing a centre-forward aft getting Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans done the door, a Red Devils fable has exclusively told Sports Mole.

Michael Carrick has already bolstered his midfield with the signing of Santos connected a five-year deal with the enactment of a sixth, aft his £50m transportation from Chelsea was announced connected Monday afternoon.

Shortly earlier Santos was unveiled arsenic a Man United player, reports emerged that the Red Devils were acceptable to motion Tielemans from Aston Villa aft triggering the £35m merchandise clause successful his contract.

Tielemans volition get alternatively of Atalanta BC's Ederson aft a woody for the Brazilian collapsed - reportedly owed to a aesculapian contented - though Man United could revisit the transportation aboriginal connected successful the summertime window.

However, Gary Pallister believes that fans volition beryllium underwhelmed by Santos's accomplishment and has implored Old Trafford chiefs to spell aft a big-name fig 9 erstwhile Tielemans is done the door.

Why Man United desperately request to motion a caller striker

"I haven’t seen excessively overmuch of Andrey Santos, but I deliberation Manchester United fans volition consciousness a spot underwhelmed having been linked with Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson earlier successful the summer," Pallister said. "They’ve been linked with large names and past ended up singing idiosyncratic who can’t get successful Chelsea’s starting XI.

"I don’t cognize what the program is astatine United – whether it’s down to FFP oregon their wage operation – but I’m hoping Michael Carrick is getting to bring successful players that helium wants. I inactive deliberation they request a mates of marquee signings who are genuine large names.

"What they truly request is simply a centre-forward. Benjamin Sesko did a bully occupation past play but he’s not the finished article. They request an experienced striker to assistance him retired and instrumentality immoderate of the load disconnected his shoulders."

Sesko is 1 of 5 recognised centre-forwards successful the Man United squad alongside Matheus Cunha, Joshua Zirkzee, Chido Obi and Ethan Wheatley, though the erstwhile mostly played arsenic a left-winger towards the extremity of the season.

Meanwhile, Man United are expected to entertain offers for the out-of-favour Zirkzee, portion 18-year-old Obi and 20-year-old Wheatley person not been deemed acceptable for regular first-team shot yet.

Why Man United whitethorn not request a caller striker

Cunha's exploits astatine centre-forward for Brazil during the 2026 World Cup, wherever the 27-year-old scored 3 goals for the Selecao, suggest that helium could rotate and vie with Sesko successful the fig 9 relation adjacent term.

Patrick Dorgu's superior hamstring wounded deprived Carrick of a utile wide enactment for a mates of months successful 2026, but the ex-Man United midfielder present has different left-winger disposable - Marcus Rashford.

The England planetary is backmost from a highly palmy indebtedness spell astatine Barcelona, wherever helium registered 14 goals and 14 assists and won the La Liga title, but his feats were not capable for a imperishable switch.

Instead, Barca are astir to adhd Karim Adeyemi to their ranks alongside Anthony Gordon, truthful the doorway has seemingly been slammed unopen connected Rashford returning to Camp Nou.

Rashford volition not determine his aboriginal until aft the World Cup, but if Carrick tin person him to instrumentality astir and stock left-wing duties with Dorgu, Cunha and Sesko tin some enarthrosis the centre-forward burden.

Gary Pallister was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of NetBet Sport.