Manchester United are making moves with Matheus Cunha signed, Bryan Mbeumo seemingly on his way and Bruno Fernandes having elected to snub a mega-money move to Al-Hilal to stay at Old Trafford
As the club's post-season tour of Malaysia and Hong Kong ended, Ruben Amorim laid down the gauntlet to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Manchester United hierarchy, declaring simply: "Find another way to earn money".
The United boss had been asked about Bruno Fernandes' future, as the Old Trafford talisman weighed up a £100million transfer to Saudi side Al-Hilal. For Amorim, despite the huge transfer fee and the fact Fernandes turns 31 later this year, the decision was a simple one for the club: Don't sell. Keep our captain. Build from there.
Amorim's wish has been granted. Not by club chiefs, who, while publicly they'll insist they never wanted to sell, may have felt £100m was a figure they couldn't turn down, particularly given the £100m Champions League revenue lost in the Europa League final defeat to Spurs. But instead by Fernandes, who has decided that leaving the Premier League for the relative backwaters of the Saudi Pro League isn't for him just yet.
That continues a pretty good start to June for the United boss, who saw No.1 transfer target Matheus Cunha complete his switch from Wolves on Sunday. The Brazil international has sealed a £62.5million move and taken a pay bump to £200k-a-week after United triggered his release clause at Molineux.
That will not be the end of United's spending as they look to put their worst-ever Premier League season firmly behind them.
Amorim has made clear his belief that there are players at the club who simply aren't fit for what he wants and has spent six months refusing to budge from his philosophy. He won't change, so the personnel at his disposal needs to. Now the hierarchy are pushing ahead with giving him what he wants.
That means, next up, Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo, fresh from a standout season in 2024-25. The South Africa international scored 20 Premier League goals last term and is precisely the kind of reliable finisher that United just don't have.
Newcastle United have been pushing hard to land him, while Liverpool also hold long-standing interest. Crucially, the latter aren't interested in a move this summer, as they push for Florian Wirtz, while Newcastle's hopes of a £60m deal are all but over, after Mbeumo informed them he only wants to move to Old Trafford. Sources close to Newcastle insist he'll be getting paid above their pay scale by choosing not to join their Champions League fight next term, but they weren't interested in breaking their salary structure.
The Fernandes decision means the pressure is on to sell others to pay for more incomings.
Alejandro Garnacho, told he has no future at the club, will go. Marcus Rashford and Antony too. The question on the trio is how much United can get for them?
Jadon Sancho may be dumped back in United's lap too, with Chelsea gearing up to spend £5m to NOT turn their loan deal permanent. Amorim will need to decide what to do with a player that fell out with Erik ten Hag.
Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof have already departed on free transfers, freeing up space when it comes to salaries, while Tyrell Malacia, who has been on loan at PSV, will be moved on.
Then there is Kobbie Mainoo, the England international who broke through under Ten Hag and was seen as the future, but who Amorin doesn't see as a natural fit in his line up. Chelsea hold a big interest and there will be no shortage of suitors if United intimate he can go. He may just be the biggest sale of the summer.
Then there are the strikers. Rasmus Hojlund looks set to return to Italy, with Champions League finalists Inter Milan pushing to take him to San Siro. Joshua Zirkzee showed fleeting moments of quality and is likely to stay albeit as back up to a new No.9.
United missed out on Liam Delap but Victor Osimhen remains admired and is an option, particularly as Napoli eye Garnacho. But the question is whether the finances, both with Napoli and the player, can be made to work.
The Nigeria international is wanted by clubs in Saudi too, and while he didn't want to go there last summer, a hugely successful year in Turkey could have worked to either embolden his view or changed his mind. Make no mistake, he would be ideal.
And in midfield, with Fernandes due to drop into a deeper role next term for the most part, there is a spot to be filled, where both Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte have been used.
The Brazilian is 33, on big money, and while Amorim has been hugely impressed by him, club chiefs would like to get him off the wage bill if possible. As for Ugarte, he's had good moments and some that have been decidedly less stellar as he adapts to life in England.
One player club scouts and bosses have watched extensively and are high on is all-action Atalanta midfielder Ederson. United are among a list of top European clubs to have held talks with the player's agent, Andre Cury, in the past few months and with Gian Piero Gasperini leaving Atalanta for Roma, Ederson too is ready to now leave the 2024 Europa League winners.
At £50million, he could give United the kind of dynamism and physicality that Amorim is desperate to add to his midfield. There's Al Hilal interest too, but a switch to one of Europe's biggest clubs is understood to be at the forefront of the Brazilian's mind.
Four signings, potentially 10 exits and one captain's decision. All in, that'd certainly give Amorim something he can work with next term to ensure he keeps to his post-season vow that "better days are coming".
Potential Man United XI: Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Martinez; Dalot, Ederson, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Osimhen.