£40m swoop, major target landed - three transfers Man United can seal before Man City showdown

Whether the Community Shield counts towards the trophy haul is up to fan discretion, but this year’s edition offers the chance for Manchester United to land an early blow to their cross-city rivals.

The two clubs will have different aims next season, both domestically and in Europe, but a win at Wembley would act as a springboard into the new season. The United coach is expected to make more signings and perhaps a handful during the pre-season tour of the USA. Ten Hag would not get drawn into how many he is targeting but said he is aiming for a “squad as strong as possible”.

That would denote at least a midfield recruit, probably a full-back and possibly another centre-back, with Leny Yoro already acquired. A right-back could also be sought after if Aaron Wan-Bissaka departs as is being rumoured.

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MEN Sport understands United are favouring a move for Manuel Ugarte over other midfield options with talks under way. The Uruguay pivot was an important part of his country’s third-place finish at the Copa America, starting every match.

This comes after a season of being in and out of the Paris Saint-Germain team, having been acquired from Sporting Lisbon only last summer. He started the first five matches of the club’s Champions League campaign but failed to make up the line-up at all in the knockouts en route to the semi-finals.

So United might be tentative about paying his apparent £40m asking price, with the club thought to be working on an overall net spend of just £50m this summer. But it seems Ineos has identified Ugarte as their most realistic