Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom, on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Harvey Murphy/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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It would take a special sort of collapse for Manchester United not to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Indeed, Michael Carrick’s team is currently sitting third in the Premier League table, eight points clear of sixth place. United only needs to finish fifth to secure its Champions League spot.

This should give the Old Trafford club greater finances to strengthen in the summer transfer window with speculation already swirling over potential targets. Regardless of whether or not Carrick lands the manager position on a permanent basis after the end of the current season, United has work to do building up its squad.

The midfield unit will be a big focus. Casemiro is set to depart Manchester United at the end of the season while Manuel Ugarte has failed to perform at the level required since making the move from Paris Saint-Germain two years ago. This is the area of the squad United must strengthen before all others.

Carlos Baleba is a long-term target for the club. Manchester United reportedly weighed up an offer for the Cameroonian last year, but couldn’t make the numbers work. This summer, though, Baleba might be available for less after a challenging 2025/26 season playing for Brighton.

Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton have also been linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford while Aurelien Tchouameni has been mentioned as a potential target. All three midfielders would elevate the level of Manchester United’s options in the centre of the field, albeit for a lot of money.

In defence, Manchester United is also reportedly monitoring Micky van de Ven. The Dutch centre back is part of the Tottenham Hotspur team fighting to stay in the Premier League, but has previously demonstrated his ability at a high level and will have no shortage of suitors this summer.

Last summer, United strengthened well, improving its forward line through the addition of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. All three have contributed to varying degrees this season while Senne Lammens, who also signed last summer, has established himself as Manchester United’s new first-choice goalkeeper.

It’s possible United’s fortunes in the transfer market have changed. While the club was not so long ago renowned for its lack of success in signing new players, its recent additions have been far more astute. That trend must continue into the summer transfer window when some key problem positions need to be addressed.