Manchester United are actively exploring attacking reinforcements in the final stages of the transfer window, with Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr emerging as a key figure on their radar. Palace are standing resolute in their £50 million valuation of the Senegal international as interest builds. Old Trafford decision-makers aren’t stopping there, however; they are weighing up several forward targets across the market as potential reshuffles loom over their frontline.
The catalyst for any late marquee arrival hinges largely on the future of Joshua Zirkzee. While the Dutch forward remains part of United’s immediate plans for now, a departure before the transfer deadline hasn’t been ruled out. Juventus have positioned Zirkzee as a prime target should Jonathan David leave Turin, while Napoli are also monitoring the situation closely. Should Zirkzee move on, United are primed to activate a secondary shortlist of attackers to maintain balance alongside the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, and Jadon Sancho.
Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye has emerged as another prominent target for United following an impressive 2025-26 Premier League campaign. The 26-year-old Senegalese international commands a high price tag, with Everton expected to demand around £70 million to sanction a sale amidst competing interest from Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. Manchester United have also kept tabs on Borussia Dortmund’s frustrated forward Karim Adeyemi, while Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was offered to the Red Devils, though no significant progress has materialized on that front.
Transfer activity across the Premier League continues to ripple outward while United evaluate their squad depth and track long-term prospects like Carlos Baleba and Senne Lammens. Elsewhere in the top flight, Chelsea have agreed a deal in principle with Brighton & Hove Albion for Danny Welbeck. The experienced striker, who scored 13 Premier League goals last term, has been granted permission to undergo a medical ahead of signing a two-year contract. Welbeck is set to link up with Chelsea for their pre-season tour of Hong Kong before the domestic campaign gets underway next month.
United’s late-window calculus reflects a calculated approach to dynamic squad engineering. Balancing firm asking prices like Palace’s £50 million demand for Sarr and Everton’s £70 million valuation of Ndiaye against incoming interest for Zirkzee leaves Old Trafford officials facing pivotal decisions. Whether these monitoring efforts transform into formal bids will depend on how quickly the transfer dominoes fall across Europe and Saudi Arabia before the window shuts.
