Manchester United’s summer plans have grown much bigger after securing Champions League football and confirming Michael Carrick as permanent head coach until 2028.

United now appear ready to properly refresh their attack, with INEOS reportedly freeing up a huge transfer budget and looking to reshape the squad around Carrick’s ideas.

Man United’s official announcement confirmed Carrick’s new deal this and now the attention has turned towards summer transfer business.

The priority is clear: United need more firepower, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside.

Benjamin Šeško is currently leading the line, but the club want stronger depth and different profiles around him.

Man United are expected to replace Zirkzee

Joshua Zirkzee’s future could also play a big role. The Dutch forward has been linked with Roma and Juventus after a quiet 2025-26 season.

That is where the striker shortlist becomes interesting. Jean-Philippe Mateta is one of the more sensible names. He is Premier League proven, physical, experienced and entering a stage where he could be available for a reasonable fee.

He would not be the glamorous option, but as a rotation striker behind Šeško, he feels like a low-risk signing.

Victor Osimhen is the dream. After a brilliant spell at Galatasaray, he still looks like the type of striker who could turn United into genuine title challengers.

He brings pace, power, goals and presence, exactly what Old Trafford loves in a No.9.

Dušan Vlahović is another big-name option, especially with his Juventus contract situation still uncertain.

If he becomes available, United will not be alone, with Bayern Munich also linked.

Robert Lewandowski would be the short-term superstar route. At his age, he would not be a long-term fix, but his experience and mentality could have a Zlatan Ibrahimović-style impact.

Eli Junior Kroupi is the future-focused option. The Bournemouth teenager is still developing, but United clearly want to mix proven quality with young talent.

More Stories / Latest News

Liverpool can solve right-back problems in July due to release clause condition

May 30 2026, 12:03

Arsenal may have to pay over £80 million to sign 23-year-old England international

May 30 2026, 11:49

Free agent Bernardo Silva is set to be offered the chance to play in La Liga next season

May 30 2026, 10:33

Red Devils need to carefully assess their options

United should avoid signing too many strikers just for the sake of it. Šeško needs support, not confusion.

Mateta would be smart as a backup, Osimhen would be transformative, and Kroupi would be a clever long-term investment.

Lewandowski sounds exciting, but only on a short, sensible deal. Vlahović is talented, but United must be careful with wages and fit.

United finally have momentum under Carrick. Now they need smart recruitment, not another expensive collection of names.

Man United make surprise offer for 13-G/A midfielder who flopped in England 

The post Sources: Major attacking rebuild underway at Man United; five attackers on radar appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool and Manchester United are among several Premier League clubs reportedly interested in Eli Junior Kroupi.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

That’s the word coming from a reputable source on X, with both the Merseysiders and Red Devils understood to be keen to further bolster their respective forward lines this summer.

The Cherries star has enjoyed a strong breakout campaign with Andoni Iraola’s side, registering 13 goals in 33 Premier League games.

Which Premier League clubs are keeping an eye on Junio Kroupi?

19 years of age and already 13 top-flight goals in one of the most challenging leagues in world football. Perhaps the most challenging across Europe’s top five, given the stylistic shift we’ve all witnessed in 2025/26.

Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

Regardless, it’s fair to say that Liverpool and Manchester United aren’t Kroupi’s sole suitors. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City – among a battalion of Europe’s elite clubs – are keeping a watching brief on the talented teenager.

With Bournemouth having slapped a £100m price-tag on the youngster’s shoulders, according to the Times (via Football Today), however, it’s difficult to see a move happen this summer.

At the very least, it’s a firm hands-off warning from the club.

Why should Liverpool and Co. be interested?

Kroupi’s numbers are pretty impressive for a 19-year-old, but he particularly stands out as a front-footed, aggressive attacker.

He wins possession in the final third 1.07 times per game per 90, according to Fotmob, which ranks him in the 95th percentile compared to his positional peers. He’s rarely dribbled past and commits fouls at a rate of 1.44 per 90.

From the perspective of sides willing to play an aggressive pressing game, the Bournemouth star would appear ready to fit like a glove.

Of course, if we’re all being honest with ourselves, there are more ready-made players you can sign in the region of £100m.

Certainly, I’d be much more inclined to pursue the likes of Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola, the latter of whom is already a Champions League winner.

On my end, as far as Liverpool’s transfer window is concerned, £100m splashed on Kroupi would be absolute insanity.

I like the profile, but we should be doing a lot better with £100m than signing a clearly overpriced young forward.

More Stories / Latest News

Liverpool ready to sell midfielder Arne Slot called ‘quality player’ for just £35 million

May 30 2026, 8:58

Sources: Major attacking rebuild underway at Man United; five attackers on radar

May 30 2026, 8:45

Liverpool have reasons behind refusal to budge to Ibrahima Konate’s demands

May 30 2026, 7:05

The post Liverpool interested in stunning breakout Premier League talent but £100m price-tag is alarming appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Bournemouth are determined to keep hold of three of their most in-demand players this summer amid interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

The Cherries have just achieved their highest-ever league position of sixth in the top flight, which brings with it a maiden journey into European competition next season, and have already moved to replace the much-loved Andoni Iraola with Marco Rose.

The south coast outfit have become used to seeing their most saleable assets depart for bigger-budget clubs over the past year (Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi, Antoine Semenyo), but they’re keen to avoid a repeat scenario in the upcoming transfer window.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

Bournemouth determined to keep crucial trio

According to a report for TEAMtalk, Bournemouth are set to take a hardline stance over key players such as Alex Scott, Rayan and Eli Junior Kroupi, with Vitality Stadium chiefs not feeling any need to sell the trio due to the extra prestige and finances brought about by Europa League qualification.

The Cherries want to reward the £60m-valued midfielder with a new contract amid interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle.

Meanwhile, the record-breaking French striker is also wanted by the Gunners, while the January arrival from Vasco da Gama (who’s understood to have an £86.5m release clause) is reportedly a target at Anfield and Old Trafford, as well as being monitored by Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

Bournemouth keen to prove they’re not just a stepping stone

Bournemouth may ultimately have been powerless to prevent the likes of Kerkez, Huijsen and Semenyo from leaving, but qualification for the Europa League has shifted the goalposts since those exits.

Rose is rightly determined to keep Scott, Rayan and Kroupi at the Vitality Stadium, with the incoming head coach well aware that he has an extremely hard act to follow in Iraola, along with a need for a deep squad to cope with the added fixture demands of European football.

Keeping all three of those could be quite difficult, especially if blockbuster offers are tabled and the players push for an exit, but retaining some or all of them would send out a signal of intent that the Cherries are no mere one-season wonders.

With the last two Europa League (and Conference League) finals being won by English clubs, Bournemouth may firmly believe that they have a chance of emulating those victors if they keep the bulk of the 2025/26 crop for next season.

If the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United want to lure the Cherries’ prized assets away from the Vitality Stadium, they’ll need to rustle up all their powers of persuasion, along with some gargantuan offers.

The post Bournemouth set to issue hands-off warning over key trio wanted by Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool appeared first on CaughtOffside.