Premier League 2026-27 preview: Man United
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The gist
Manchester United enter 2026-27 under Michael Carrick after a third-place finish. They face a fan rift and a quiet transfer window, with midfield revamped.
Background
Manchester United finished third last season under interim manager Michael Carrick, who was confirmed as permanent manager in May. The club has had a relatively quiet summer transfer window, focusing on bargains like Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos rather than elite names. However, the club is £1.3bn in debt and has a strained relationship with fans, who are unhappy with the Glazers and some of the club's recent decisions.
How it unfolded
- May 2026Michael Carrick confirmed as permanent manager after guiding United to a third-place finish.
- Jul 2026United unveiled plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium, with a projected cost of £2bn and completion in 2035.
- Aug 2026United signed Youri Tielemans for £35m and Andrey Santos for £48m, with Carlos Baleba expected to join for around £75m. Marcus Rashford returned from loan at Barcelona.
- Aug 22, 2026United begin their Premier League season at newly-promoted Hull City.
Who’s saying what
- Guardian writers
- Predicted 5th place, noting the squad needs more additions and the club's financial constraints.
- Opta supercomputer
- Gives United a 6.2% chance of winning the title, fourth favourites, with a 40% chance of a top-five finish.
- ESPN UK
- Predicts United to drop from third to fifth, with some believing they could finish as high as second or as low as seventh.
- Yardbarker
- Suggests success would be fighting Arsenal for first place, given transitions at other top clubs.
Still unverified
The reported £75m fee for Carlos Baleba is not confirmed by all sources. The projected stadium cost of £2bn is described as optimistic by some, with suggestions it could double.