MARSEILLE TRANSFER LIST ANGEL GOMES AS MICHAEL CARRICK EYES MANCHESTER UNITED RETURN
Michael Carrick could rescue Angel Gomes from his Marseille nightmare. Discover why a Man Utd return is on the cards.
Michael Carrick, now in charge at Manchester United, has a real shot at bringing in a familiar face to fix the team’s lingering midfield problems this January.
Midfield has been a weak spot at Old Trafford since last summer. Names like Ruben Neves, Joao Gomes, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Wilfred Ndidi keep popping up as potential signings. With United sticking to a 4-2-3-1 for the rest of the season, they’d welcome some fresh energy in the middle.
Last time out, Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro started in the 2-0 win over Manchester City, and Manuel Ugarte came off the bench. Mainoo looks set to stay, even though Napoli want him, and Ajax are apparently sniffing around Ugarte for a loan deal.
United won’t just buy for the sake of it. They’re waiting for the right player at the right price. If a rival makes a move for one of their top targets, then they’ll react, but honestly, the most likely scenario is that they act only if the right opportunity pops up. Angel Gomes ticks a lot of boxes.
Gomes, a former United midfielder, joined Marseille last summer after leaving Lille. He’s played 20 games this season but has lost his place in Roberto De Zerbi’s lineup. He came up through United’s academy, made ten appearances for the first team, and was even linked with a return last summer. Now, according to L’Equipe, Marseille want to speed up his exit—he’s officially up for sale.
Marseille looks set to bring in Himad Abdelli from Angers and Quinten Timber from Feyenoord, which leaves Gomes out in the cold. The club’s management has told him he needs to find a new club by February 2.
For Gomes, there’s a bit of luck here—Carrick, one of his earliest teammates in senior football, is now United’s boss and has always rated him highly. Back in 2018, Gomes made his United debut in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace under Jose Mourinho, then played in the FA Cup the next season.
“Michael Carrick did everything possible to let me get on the ball,” Gomes told The Guardian about his debut. “Every time he had it, he was looking for me.”
Carrick was at the tail end of his playing days then, but he was always quick to praise the club’s young talent. “I look at the good young lads here—real talent: Marcus, Luke, Jesse, Anthony, Rom, Angel, young Chong,” he told The Times. “That excites me. I try to help when I can. I’m not one to shout and scream, but when you play midfield in that anchoring role, you’re connected to everything. When you’re at your best, you just get what every player around you needs.”
WHY MARCUS RASHFORD IS OFFICIALLY SNUBBING MICHAEL CARRICK’S MANCHESTER UNITED SOS RETURN PLEA
Marcus Rashford has no interest in a Manchester United return. Discover why he’s choosing a permanent £26m move to Barcelona instead.
Marcus Rashford isn’t looking back at Manchester United. After his loan to Barcelona, he’s made it pretty clear he wants to stay in Spain for good.
He landed at Barca last summer, a move that made sense after things soured for him at Old Trafford. Hansi Flick brought him in on a season-long loan, with a deal in place to buy him for €30 million (£26 million). Rashford wasted no time showing his worth—22 goal contributions in 32 games. He’s settled in fast, and the fans have noticed.
Earlier on, it sounded like Barcelona might try to haggle over the fee, maybe push for another loan or a cheaper deal. But now, according to Marca, that’s off the table. The club’s ready to pay what they agreed and make Rashford’s move permanent. Rashford wants it too. Everyone seems to be on the same page.
The Mirror reports Rashford has zero interest in heading back to Manchester. He wants his future sorted before England sets off for the 2026 World Cup in North America. No surprise there—he’s not looking to drag things out.
England’s first match is June 17 against Croatia, just two weeks after Barcelona’s season wraps up. Some talk suggested Michael Carrick, if he gets the United job permanently, could try to lure Rashford back. But honestly, Rashford’s mind is made up. He wants Spain, and that’s that.
Even if the Barcelona deal somehow falls through, Rashford would rather move elsewhere than wear United’s shirt again. If everything goes as planned, his transfer will be United’s first big move this summer.
He’s not the only one heading out. Casemiro’s already confirmed he’s leaving, and a few others might follow. United have juggled rumours about guys like Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, and Kobbie Mainoo, especially back in January. After Ruben Amorim left, Mainoo actually found himself in a stronger spot at United and has started every match since Carrick came back. Lately, there’s been a real push to get him into the England squad.
Meanwhile, United are fighting for a Champions League spot. If they make the top five, they’ll have more cash to play with this summer. Last year, they spent over £200 million beefing up the squad, even without European football.
If Rashford, Ugarte, and Zirkzee all leave, United will have even more flexibility to reshape the team. Top priorities? A central midfielder, a centre-forward, and a left winger before the 2026/27 season kicks off. This summer’s shaping up to be busy at Old Trafford.
COLE PALMER "OPEN" TO MANCHESTER UNITED SWITCH AMID HOMESICK RUMORS
Cole Palmer is reportedly open to a summer move to boyhood club Manchester United as claims of homesickness emerge at Chelsea.
Cole Palmer just can’t seem to escape transfer talk. Now, it’s Manchester United in the headlines, with rumours swirling that he’s homesick after spending two and a half years at Chelsea.
Apparently, Palmer wouldn’t mind a big summer move to United—his boyhood club—especially with fresh claims that he’s not exactly settled in London. He joined Chelsea from Manchester City in a £42.5 million deal and quickly became one of their main attacking threats. But now, the England international’s name keeps popping up in connection to a return up north.
The Sun says Palmer would be open if United came calling, since he grew up supporting them. But don’t expect him to head back to City while Pep Guardiola’s still the boss. That door’s basically closed.
It’s worth noting that Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, knows Palmer well from his time at City’s academy. Wilcox is a big fan—hard not to be, after Palmer racked up 15 goals and eight assists in the Premier League last season.
Despite signing a new deal with Chelsea last year that runs until 2033, Palmer reportedly misses his hometown of Wythenshawe.
Injuries have made this season tough for him. He’s only managed 13 appearances in the 2025-26 campaign, and he missed Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday because of a thigh problem. Liam Rosenior, Chelsea’s new head coach, confirmed that before the match.
Rosenior’s already tried to put a lid on the transfer rumours, especially the talk about Palmer being homesick. “I’ve spoken to Cole plenty of times, and he seems really happy here,” Rosenior said last week. “He’s a huge part of our long-term plans.
“My job—and the club’s—is to help him consistently play at his best. He was frustrated after the Brentford game, for sure. We need to take care of him, and that’s why I kept him out of the last match.”