Manchester United added some important first-team signings to Michael Carrick's squad this summer, as INEOS completed a Old Trafford midfield rebuild.
Having transformed their attacking options in the summer of 2025, it was the turn of the midfield in 2026 after Casemiro left the club, and Manuel Ugarte suffered a serious injury while representing Uruguay at the 2026 World Cup.
Man United spent more than £150m to sign three new central midfielders for Carrick in Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba, with the hope that the latter will finally make his long-awaited debut against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The Cameroon international completed his switch to Old Trafford in August but he has been recovering from an injury issue suffered prior to the move, but he was back on the substitutes' bench against Fulham prior to the extended international break.
As well as first-team additions, Red Devils chiefs have also been busy working to bring some top young talent into the club for the academy sides now, with the aim of them being first-team stars in the future.
Isaac Konde was the most recent exciting arrival, with the 16-year-old winger leaving Liverpool for the short trip to Manchester.
Man United's Youth Signings in 2026:
Isaac Konde
David Eze
Karim Cassim
Cristian Orozco
Tynan Thompson
United will hope those players can follow in the footsteps of someone like Ayden Heaven, who has established himself in the first-team squad following a similar move from Arsenal.
Of course, one of the big talking points in recent weeks around Carrington has been the future of JJ Gabriel, who has told the club he wants out for what he and his family perceive to be broken promises over game time this season.
The forward just turned 16 and United still have some control over his future, but if he gets the Irish or Cypriot passport he is eligible for, it would allow him to make the move abroad now with strong interest from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur have their own version of JJ Gabriel in Luca Williams-Barnett who, like the 16-year-old, is his club's most exciting and talented academy graduate right now.
According to the Sun, Spurs are trying to tie him down to a new contract, although the 18-year-old finds himself in a similar situation to Gabriel right now, with his first-team minutes limited under Roberto De Zerbi this season even though he was one of their standout players in pre-season.
Man United are ready to prise the teenager away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and he would be an exciting addition based on his cameos in the first-team so far.
Williams-Barnett Similar to Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba could have been such a special and important player for Man United, but across two separate spells he never truly showed the consistency considering the ability he clearly had.
Nevertheless, he still wowed the Old Trafford crowd at times with his swagger, ability to carry the ball forward and how he was proficient at using both feet.
From what we've seen from Williams-Barnett in a Tottenham shirt so far, there are a lot of similarities between him and Pogba.
As mentioned, the 18-year-old has already shown he is comfortable using either foot, while he has the same swagger and confidence that Pogba had on the pitch for the Red Devils.
Williams-Barnett hasn't been fazed by making the step-up to senior football, as shown by his Panenka penalty against Sydney FC during Spurs' pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The main difference between the teenager and Pogba is that he looks set to play further forward on the pitch, having usually featured either on the left wing or in his preferred position as a No.10.
He will consider himself unfortunate not to see more game time in his favourite role given the issues Tottenham have had this season, with fitness issues continuing for James Maddison.