Manchester United’s Director of Football intensifies summer planning, meeting domestic rivals to secure top young talent and boost spending power following a crucial Champions League return.
Manchester United now have one eye firmly on the summer transfer window after sealing qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
A recent 3-2 victory over Liverpool F.C. at Old Trafford, thanks to goals from Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Šeško, and Kobbie Mainoo, moved United onto 64 points and 12 clear of sixth place with three games remaining, confirming their place in the competition.
Securing a return to Europe’s top competition is expected to significantly strengthen United’s position in the transfer market, potentially increasing their summer spending power by £80-100 million.
Although the club’s priority remains signing proven Premier League-quality players capable of making an immediate impact, there is also a focus on recruiting promising young talent for the future.
Sources: Wilcox meets with three English clubs
Roundtable revealed last week that United's Director of Football, Jason Wilcox, had been regularly internally proposing Newcastle's Lewis Hall as a left-back target, and the former Blackburn winger has been speaking to other clubs, too.
Roundtable understands that over the past week, Wilcox has met with club officials from Nottingham Forest, Championship side Leicester City, and another undisclosed Premier League club.
Sources have also informed Roundtable that United hold a firm interest in Leicester's talented teen winger Jeremy Monga, who is expected to leave the Midlands club this summer.
Manchester City have also held talks with Leicester, specifically surrounding Monga, while the Reds also like the look of Foxes midfielder Louis Page, born in 2008.
Further, it's believed that Academy Director Stephen Torpey, who was appointed from Brentford nine months ago, was also present during United's meeting with Leicester.
Reports: Carrick to be offered United job
Earlier this campaign, much of United's summer transfer plans hinged on who would be the club's manager next season, but amid reports that Carrick will be offered the role of head coach, it looks as if transfer plans are coming into place.
According to multiple reports, senior players such as Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, and Matheus Cunha have told United officials that they want Carrick to stay, although it's recognised that their views carry little weight in a final decision.
Now that Champions League football is confirmed, Carrick was asked whether any talks had taken place regarding his long-term role with United.
Although the United boss confirmed no talks had taken place, he explained that his focus remains on finishing the final three games of the season as strong as possible.
“Listen, clarity is important," Carrick said on Thursday afternoon ahead of the side's trip to face Sunderland.
"I think moving forward, it's coming a time, at the end of the season, where I think we finish strong and put ourselves in a good position, you know, and obviously the situation of my role and what it looks like moving forward.
"I think it's just the natural time, but it's always spoke about towards the end of the season, if not the end of the season, so nothing's really changed, to be honest.”
Asked why there have been no talks despite the Champions League qualification, Carrick said, “Yeah, we have, but it's a matter of days ago. We’ve got eyes on finishing the season strongly as well.
"So, I understand the question, I understand the timing of it, but from my point of view, right at this stage, it's just putting the boys in a place to finish the season strongly, and then, as I've said all along, and I'm calm about it, it'll get sorted out when it's going to get sorted out, some of it's out of my hands, so we'll see what happens.”