Man United dream squad for 2026/27 as Anderson signs, Rashford replaced and £44m star joins

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A wave of change is anticipated at Manchester United this summer, with a decision looming over Michael Carrick's future. And having witnessed a resurgence under the club legend's stewardship, attention now shifts to what business might be conducted in the transfer window.

It's already known Casemiro will be among those departing when his deal runs out at the end of June. However, uncertainty remains over whether club captain Bruno Fernandes will stay following a Player of the Season-worthy campaign.

Marcus Rashford 's situation and whether he makes his Barcelona loan permanent will also prove a major talking point in the weeks ahead. Here, Mirror Football examines what other transactions could take place in a dream scenario at Old Trafford.

One such priority concerns the requirement for reinforcements in central midfield. To that end, beating Manchester City to the signature of Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson would be a coup of the highest order.

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All indications at present point to Anderson being likely bound for City this summer. The player is understood to favour a switch to the Etihad over Old Trafford , even despite the turnaround job Carrick has successfully orchestrated to date.

In an ideal world , however, United would secure the player first and refuse to let go. Even if his reported price tag of £100million or more would account for a substantial portion of the overall funds available this summer.

The likes of Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee could be heading out this summer, either of whom could generate some considerable funds to help finance a couple of new arrivals. Signing a player of Anderson's calibre could be a massive boost in any transfer window, but the fact Pep Guardiola's side are seemingly such admirers is just an added bonus.

It seems in everyone's best interests if Rashford does ultimately sever ties with his boyhood club this summer, as difficult as that may be to accept. However, Carrick has suggested his former team-mate may still have a future at Old Trafford if he has his way.

Barcelona are still understood to hold an exclusive £26m purchase option on the player, who has experienced a renaissance at the Camp Nou. And while United already have Matheus Cunha excelling predominantly from the left flank this season, additional cover perhaps wouldn't hurt should Rashford leave.

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In the interests of preserving squad harmony and ensuring a player like Cunha doesn't grow frustrated, it would be sensible to recruit someone more comfortable operating in a rotational capacity. On that front, a prospect such as RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande could prove a suitable option to vie for a starting berth in attack.

The Ivorian has been in Germany for less than a year since Leipzig activated his £16m release clause. Yet it's testament to just how impressively he's performed in the Bundesliga that his market value is now thought to be closer to the £60m region.

It's understood United are monitoring the forward , though he is also attracting attention from Paris Saint-Germain and other Premier League sides could enter the race. It may prove challenging to prise the left winger away from Leipzig given he remains under contract until 2030.

That said, United should be capable of facilitating negotiations if they demonstrate a willingness to at least meet the 19-year-old's reported valuation.

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With reports United are prioritising two new midfielders this summer, Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller makes a lot of sense as a lower-profile acquisition. Stiller operates deeper in the midfield chain and would fill the gap set to be left by Casemiro.

That would give the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Fernandes the freedom to operate more effectively further forward without the risk of leaving Carrick's side vulnerable. The Bayern Munich academy graduate was part of the Stuttgart side that stormed to the DFB-Pokal title last season and is currently on track to help the club secure a place in next term's Champions League .

As it stands, 25-year-old Stiller is understood to have a release clause worth just £32.6m. However, that figure will rise to £43.5m the moment Stuttgart pay a modest fee of around £2m, which appears inevitable at this stage.

Stiller has contributed five assists in the Bundesliga this season, averaging 69.1 passes per game, one of the highest averages for someone who doesn't play in defence.

Casemiro's departure could ultimately prove to be United's only significant loss this summer, though many will be saddened to see Rashford's time at the club conclude in such disappointing circumstances. As for incoming transfers, the midfield pairing of Anderson and Stiller would bring both quality and depth, while Diomande is displaying all the hallmarks of a future superstar.

Here is how that final squad would look:

Lammens, Bayindir, Onana; Maguire, De Ligt, Martinez, Shaw, Dalot, Yoro, Mazraoui, Heaven, Dorgu; Fernandes, Anderson, Mount, Mainoo, Stiller, Thwaites; Lacey, Cunha, Mbeumo, Sesko, Diomande, Amad, Obi.