United contact Porto over £69m Gomes as Rashford-Bayern talks stall

Manchester United have made contact with the representatives of Porto forward William Gomes as they look to strengthen their attack this summer, though they face competition from Arsenal and Atlético Madrid for the £69m-rated starlet.

The approach for Gomes is one of several transfer threads United are managing simultaneously. Talks over a potential move for Marcus Rashford to Bayern Munich have reportedly stalled, with the German club reluctant to meet his wage demands for a player they view primarily as a backup option rather than a first-choice signing.

Manuel Ugarte is expected to depart Old Trafford after two difficult seasons, with Crystal Palace and Everton leading the race for his signature. United are holding out for a fee in the region of £25 million for the Uruguayan midfielder.

Mason Greenwood, meanwhile, appears to be moving closer to a permanent exit. Fenerbahçe presidential candidate Haka Safi announced that the Turkish club have agreed a four-year deal to sign the forward. Should the transfer be finalised, United would benefit financially through a sell-on clause negotiated when Greenwood left on loan.

At left-back, United have drawn up a three-man shortlist to address their defensive depth, with Newcastle’s Lewis Hall identified as the preferred target ahead of Nathaniel Brown and Alejandro Balde.

United are also monitoring Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, though a deal is complicated by the fact that they — and several other Premier League clubs tracking him — already have established players in his preferred position.

AC Milan winger Rafael Leão has publicly stated his desire to test himself in the Premier League, a declaration that has renewed interest from both United and Arsenal. Whether that interest translates into a formal approach remains to be seen.

Adding further complexity to United’s summer plans, reports suggest José Mourinho has asked Real Madrid to move for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes — a player United have been tracking — should he be appointed manager at the Bernabéu. United retain interest in the Portuguese midfielder, but Mourinho’s potential involvement introduces a significant new variable.