United believe the club’s name is being used in transfer speculation to ‘smoke out bidders’ for PL outcasts

Manchester United have today found themselves linked with three Premier League players – despite preparing for the arrival of their fifth summer signing. 

Indeed, Manuel Ugarte’s transfer will take the Red Devils’ spending past the £200 million mark, although they have done slightly better in outgoings this year by recuperating £60m through player sales, excluding Scott McTominay, whose Napoli switch is yet to be finalised.

As such, supporters have seemingly been urged to approach the final two days of the window with vigilance when it comes to transfer speculation. Since this morning, we’ve been led to believe that the club held talks over Ivan Toney, accelerated their rumoured interest in Ben Chilwell and edged closer to the acquisition of Raheem Sterling.

Read more: Erik ten Hag ‘opposed’ one United transfer this summer – but INEOS pushed for deal anyway

Links to PL outcasts wide of the mark, suggests journalist

While the latter of the prospective deals is perhaps the most likely, given Chelsea’s interest in Jadon Sancho, Mike Keegan has taken to X/Twitter this afternoon to confirm that United’s budget is now essentially empty.

He wrote: “Believe Manchester United’s kitty is pretty much empty after Manuel Ugarte. There’s a view the club’s name is being used in an attempt to smoke out bidders for Ivan Toney, Ben Chilwell & Raheem Sterling. It is that time of the window…”