Man Utd and Chelsea make approach to sign £43m Barcelona transfer target
Man Utd and Chelsea have expressed interest in deals (Picture: Getty) Manchester United and Chelsea have expressed interest in signing a new striker before the end of the summer transfer window. Man United’s dismal opening-day defeat to newly-promoted Hull City could spark the club into transfer action before the summer window closes on September 3. Virtually all of United’s focus so far this summer has been on midfield reinforcements, with Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos completing moves to Old Trafford and Carlos Baleba set to follow suit in a £70m deal from Brighton. Michael Carrick is also interested in signing a new left-back before the transfer deadline, while several pundits are of the opinion a new striker is needed to support Benjamin Sesko. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. £73m signing Sesko was benched for United’s Premier League opener after struggling with a shin injury over the summer, with Matheus Cunha leading the line to little effect. Owen Hargreaves urged Old Trafford bosses to sign a new striker after the shock defeat to Hull, telling TNT Sports: ‘I think they could probably do with another striker option. ‘I think that showed today, Sesko didn’t start and Cunha played a little bit deeper. He’s a 10, and plays very effective off the left. Man Utd boss Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty) ‘But I do think with Baleba coming into the team, it is a good squad and it is a top four squad, I just think they were at their best last season counter attacking teams. ‘They were at their best counter attacking teams, remember the first ones, Carrick’s first games against City and Arsenal. ‘Today where they had possession of the ball they didn’t look like scoring. I think it will be easier when the space opens up. Today there wasn’t that. {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Carrick reflects on disappointing start as Man United lose to Hull","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/08\/22\/3200761093652133798\/480x270_MP4_3200761093652133798.mp4","description":"Press conference with Manchester United manager Michael Carrick following their 2-0 loss to Hull City at the MKM Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday.","duration":"T6M44S","height":270,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/08\/22\/16\/110791853-0-image-m-13_1787413415956.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-08-22T16:42:41+0100","width":480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.add('metro-video-player--related-videos-loaded'); } }); ‘I think they go back to the drawing board and look at what they can do differently.’ Premier League legend Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, said Carrick’s side ‘offered nothing’ going forward against a Hull side who conceded 66 goals in the Championship last season. ‘United were dreadful in all positions, particularly up front. They offered nothing,’ Shearer said on BBC’s Match of the Day. Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi (Picture: Getty) ‘There was only one team going to win. It’s a worrying thing. You know what you are going to get going up against a promoted team. You need to match them.’ While not expected to sign a new striker before the transfer window shuts, Manchester United have made an approach for Nicolo Tresoldi, according to reports in Belgium. Tresoldi, 22, shot to prominence after scoring 23
