“They wanted to sign him and replace Bruno Fernandes, until Bruno accepted a new deal. They might be regretting their decisions agter Bruno Fernandes poor performances this season. He really wanted to come to Manchester United but was left heartbroken”-Fabrizio Romano reveals the blockbuster signing Man Utd missed out on during the summer transfer window as they plan to replace Bruno Fernandes.
Over the summer, Manchester United made five key signings to bolster their squad, but according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the club fell short of landing an attacking player they had set their sights on. A late attempt to bring in the player during the transfer window ultimately failed.
Under manager Erik ten Hag, United aimed to strengthen multiple positions in their pursuit of building on last season’s FA Cup success and securing a spot in the Champions League. Among their summer signings, United acquired forward Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna for £36.5 million, beating competition from Real Madrid to sign him. Another major addition was French defender Leny Yoro from Lille, secured in a £52 million deal. Further bolstering the defense, United struck a deal with Bayern Munich for both Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, paying a combined fee of around £50 million. The club rounded off their transfer window by signing Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on deadline day, with an initial outlay of £42 million.
Despite these reinforcements, Manchester United’s start to the season has been somewhat mixed. After playing four Premier League games, they currently sit 10th in the table, but they recently boosted their confidence with a dominant 3-0 away win against Southampton. This was followed by their biggest victory yet under Ten Hag’s leadership, a resounding 7-0 victory over League One team Barnsley in the League Cup. The Barnsley manager was openly frustrated with his players after the defeat. United now prepare to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday, aiming to secure back-to-back wins in the Premier League.
However, the summer transfer window wasn’t without its disappointments for United, as they were unable to complete the signing of Dutch international Xavi Simons. Simons, a player with growing acclaim, made a strong impression during Euro 2024, notably scoring in a 2-1 loss to England. The young talent, who began his career at Barcelona before moving to PSG in 2022, spent the 2022/23 season on loan at PSV Eindhoven. Last season, he was loaned to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, and he returned to the German club again this summer.
According to Romano, Manchester United expressed their interest in signing Simons prior to the European Championship, but the player was set on continuing his career in Germany for the time being. A move to England, however, could still be in the cards for the summer of 2025. Although United missed out on Simons this time around, there remains the possibility of a future transfer to Old Trafford.
