“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.
Manchester United made five additions during the recent summer transfer window, but according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the club fell short in securing an attacking player after an unsuccessful bid.
The club’s summer signings strengthened several key areas, with manager Erik ten Hag aiming to build on last season’s FA Cup victory and return to the Champions League.
One of the notable acquisitions was Joshua Zirkzee, who was brought in from Bologna for £36.5 million. Additionally, United beat Real Madrid to secure French defender Leny Yoro from Lille for £52 million. The club also completed a double signing from Bayern Munich, acquiring defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui for a combined £50 million. On deadline day, they sealed the transfer of Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte from PSG for an initial fee of £42 million.
After their opening four league games, United currently sits in 10th place in the Premier League standings. They recently secured a commanding 3-0 victory away at Southampton, followed by an emphatic 7-0 win over Barnsley in the League Cup, marking their largest win under Ten Hag. The heavy defeat left Barnsley’s manager disheartened by his team’s performance.
United now turns its attention to their next fixture against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, hoping to secure consecutive Premier League victories.
Despite their successful signings, United couldn’t achieve all their transfer goals, particularly in their pursuit of Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons. The Netherlands international, who scored against England in Euro 2024 during a 2-1 loss, was a priority for United. However, Simons, who joined PSG from Barcelona in 2022 and had loan spells with PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig, opted to return to the Bundesliga this summer.
Romano revealed that United had made inquiries about Simons before the European Championships, but the player preferred a move back to Germany. However, there remains a chance that Simons could make a switch to England in the summer of 2025, keeping the door open for a potential transfer to Old Trafford.
