United dismiss Romero interest and baulk at £80m Scott fee amid busy summer planning

Manchester United have firmly ruled out a move for Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero, with the club stating it has no plans to sign a central defender and is prioritising other areas of the squad this summer.

The window opens on Monday, 15 June, and United face a crowded agenda. Bournemouth have set an £80m asking price for midfielder Alex Scott specifically to deter interest from clubs including United and Liverpool, with the south-coast side hoping Scott will instead commit to a new contract at the Vitality Stadium.

United are also tracking West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, but have refused to meet his current £80m valuation. The club now faces stiff competition from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain for his signature.

Marcus Rashford’s future remains unresolved. Barcelona are reportedly reluctant to trigger the £26m purchase option that would make his loan permanent, yet Rashford is said to be unwilling to consider alternatives — including reported interest from Bayern Munich — until a move to Spain is definitively off the table.

In midfield, United executives are said to be highly confident of beating Manchester City to the signing of Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, though Forest are demanding a fee in excess of £105m for the England international.

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba has reportedly spoken with United players about a potential move to Old Trafford, with those conversations said to have taken place on the pitch following a match on the final day of the Premier League season.

In the goalkeeping department, United are weighing up a move for Karl Darlow, whose contract with Leeds United expires this summer. The club views the experienced keeper as a cost-effective cover option, with former United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone also linked.

Off the transfer front, United have confirmed their final pre-season friendly: Michael Carrick’s side will travel to Wroclaw, Poland, to face AC Milan on 15 August.