Manchester United’s ambitions of mounting a Premier League title charge next season massively depend on their business in the summer transfer window.

Michael Carrick proved at the back end of last campaign that he’s capable of getting the results needed for success - subsequently losing just two of his 17 games at the helm.

INEOS have already backed the 44-year-old with over £80m worth of additions, with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans arriving from Chelsea and Aston Villa, respectively.

Both players are likely to play a key role at the heart of the side throughout 2026/27, which could see them strike up a partnership with one of the Red Devils' most talented options.

How Bruno can lead United to Premier League success in 2026/27

Throughout the 2025/26 campaign, United captain Bruno Fernandes was influential in their success - as seen by his remarkable figures in the Premier League.

The Portuguese international ended the recent season with 21 assists in England’s top-flight - subsequently breaking the record for the most assists registered in a single season.

Carrick will certainly be hoping that the 31-year-old can emulate or even better such figures next term, with his underlying stats also showcasing how crucial he is to the manager’s system.

His tally of 4.1 chances created in the Premier League last campaign was the highest of any player in the division - undoubtedly playing a huge role in his ability to break the assist record.

Fernandes also created the most big chances and completed the most successful crosses per 90 of any player in Carrick’s side - often being the player to provide the goods within the final third.

There’s no denying he will remain the Red Devils’ most important player throughout 2026/27, with Bruno a player who is more than capable of dealing with the pressure of such a role.

However, that’s not to say the hierarchy aren’t targeting added reinforcements who could further improve the manager’s depth within attacking areas of the pitch.

How United can land a bigger talent than Fernandes this summer

Despite keen efforts being directed to improving the Red Devils’ midfield department, INEOS have started to turn their attention to identifying new additions within the final third.

Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins has recently been touted as one option currently being considered, with the Englishman said to be available for around the £40m mark.

However, he’s not the only player who’s appeared on their transfer shortlist, with Bayern Munich star Michael Olise a surprise name under consideration at Old Trafford.

TEAMtalk have provided the latest on the club’s efforts to land the Frenchman, stating that work has been done in recent months to gain more information on his situation.

The report also states that Bayern Munich are reluctant to sell the 24-year-old, who’s also said to be a major target for Spanish giants Real Madrid this window.

After his move to the Bundesliga in the summer of 2024, Olise has taken his career to the next level, with the 2025/26 campaign undoubtedly the best year of his career.

Now described as a "real challenger for the Ballon d'Or" by Florent Malouda, he produced some remarkable stats in Germany’s top-division, many of which showcase why he could already be a bigger talent than United captain, Fernandes.

The French international registered a staggering 28 assists across all competitions - a tally six higher than that of the Portuguese international from last campaign.

Like Bruno, he registered the most chances created of any player in his respective division and ended the year with 22 combined goals and assists across all competitions.

Such numbers demonstrate his excellent quality within the final third of the pitch - which could see him become Carrick’s main talisman upon any move to Old Trafford.

Olise managed to complete more successful dribbles per 90 and achieved a higher cross success rate - reaffirming his dominance over the Red Devils star in forward areas.

His tally of 6.5 passes into the final third per 90 placed him above 92% of players on the continent and backs up content creator Luke Seychell's claim that he’s a “world-class” talent.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the Bayern star would cost this summer, but it’s evident he’s a player who could help lead the club back up the Premier League table.

Fernandes has been a superb signing for the Red Devils, but at 31, he’s heading towards the back end of his career, and it appears INEOS are already preparing a move for their next star number ten.