Owen Hargreaves has urged INEOS to sign three sought-after stars. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
To say a pivotal summer is on the horizon for Manchester United this year is an understatement.
The weekend’s affairs only highlighted that fact, as the Red Devils sustained a 15th Premier League defeat at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers, who became the fifth club to complete a double over the 20-time champions following their 1-0 victory. They joined Brighton and Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United on the list, while Bournemouth can also achieve the feat with a win on their home turf on Sunday.
Winning the Europa League – therefore securing Champions League qualification in the process – would provide INEOS with a much-needed cash injection to kickstart the transfer window, as will the £25 million fee recuperated via Jadon Sancho’s switch to Chelsea, assuming the London outfit follow through with their obligation rather than paying the £5m penalty.
Hargreaves: Two attacking stars and unstoppable CF would transform United
Elsewhere, United will be waiting to see if Aston Villa activate their £40m buy option for Marcus Rashford. His prospective sale, whether that be to Villa or another club, generates pure profit for INEOS and gives the transfer chiefs some room for manoeuvre around the strict Profit and Sustainability laws.
In terms of who could be arriving at Old Trafford, Owen Hargreaves believes there are three perfect candidates available to form the first part of Amorim’s rebuild for 2026/2026.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the Champions League-winning ex-Red expressed: “Say you added [Victor] Osimhen, [Matheus] Cunha, and Ederson from Atalanta, Man United are different next season. They need difference-makers at the top of the pitch.”
“He’s perfect in a 3-4-3 because he’s got crazy legs,” Hargreaves said of Ederson, who has recently been linked with both United and arch-rivals Manchester City.
🗣️ “Is he better than what we’ve got?”
Rio, Joel and Owen debate #MUFC signings
CC: @rioferdy5, @joelbeya pic.twitter.com/lvowtgt0EK
— Rio Ferdinand Presents (@FIVEUK) April 21, 2025
