Meulensteen urges Carrick to sign Kane and Elliot Anderson in first United transfer window

Rene Meulensteen, a former assistant coach to Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, has urged Manchester United to target Harry Kane and Elliot Anderson in Michael Carrick’s first summer transfer window as permanent manager. With a Champions League campaign on the horizon, Meulensteen believes significant investment in both attack and midfield is essential.

Speaking to Tipman Tips, Meulensteen was clear that a proven striker must be a priority. “I still think they need to do something in the striker position as well as midfield reinforcements,” he said. “I would rather see United bring in a more experienced striker. Now, I don’t think he will be tempted to leave Bayern this summer, but if United could attract someone like Harry Kane, then suddenly you are in a great position to start challenging for the title.”

Meulensteen acknowledged that Kane may be beyond United’s reach financially, and pointed to Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta as a more realistic alternative — a striker he described as “strong” and “proven” in the Premier League. He also cautioned against over-relying on younger attacking options, noting that players such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, while capable, are not natural centre-forwards. RB Salzburg’s Kerim Alajbegović was flagged as a promising talent but one considered too raw to guarantee an immediate impact in England.

In midfield, Meulensteen was emphatic about the scale of rebuilding required. “United need to sign at least two, if not three midfielders this transfer window,” he said. “That’s the position where they have to really, really strengthen, especially with more competitions coming up.”

His standout midfield recommendation was Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, the England international who has attracted interest from several top clubs following an outstanding season. Meulensteen also mentioned Ederson as a player with similar qualities, but conceded that Anderson’s rising price tag — driven by widespread demand — could put him out of United’s reach, just as Kane might be.

“Anderson has obviously had an outstanding season, and he’s gained interest from the biggest clubs in the league, which just makes his price go up and up,” Meulensteen added. “It’s a matter of who is willing and who is capable of paying that price.”

Carrick, who took charge of United on a permanent basis after a stint as interim manager, is expected to be active in the transfer market as the club prepares to compete on multiple fronts next season.