Despite still being in the conversations to win the FA Cup and secure
Champions League qualification for next season, a lot of attention is already switching to the summer transfer window at Old Trafford . Following the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe,
Manchester United will be embarking on a new journey come the summer that is hoped will lead to happier and more successful times. Vowing to knock
Manchester City and
Liverpool "off their perch" within three years, the Ineos chief has grand ambitions to make United great again. He has wasted little time in trying to make a positive impact, swooping for Omar Berrada , who has been installed as the club's new chief executive, from Manchester City. He also wants to appoint Dan Ashworth as the club's inaugural sporting director. READ MORE: United yet to make a decision on Erik ten Hag's future READ MORE: Denmark confirm Rasmus Hojlund agreement with United Though Ratcliffe has suggested off-field appointments will initially take priority over player recruitment, there is no denying that this forthcoming summer's transfer window is a vitally important one in United's history. Big changes need to be made to the landscape of the squad, in terms of both incomings and outgoings, regardless of who the manager is. With that in mind, here is a rundown of what positions United plan to try and strengthen this summer, who has already been linked with filling them, who could leave and what might actually happen. Where do United want to strengthen this summer? United, as reported by the Manchester Evening News at the time, drew up plans for the summer window as far back as September. It is understood they have identified four positions they wish to strengthen as a priority: full-back, centre-back, central-midfield and attack. There is a general understanding that United specifically want to bolster their right-back options and they have expressed interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong. However, there is an increasing belief they could also be in the market for a left-back after the injury issues they have encountered in that department this term. As for midfield, it has become increasingly clear they need to source a long-term replacement for Casemiro to fill the defensive-midfield role. He has regressed this season and they need fresh legs in that particular area. Up front, there is no denying United to source a backup option for Rasmus Hojlund. Anthony Martial is set to leave the club at the end of the season, meaning he needs replacing. Rasmus Hojlund is in need of some competition. (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images.) Who have been linked with moves to Old Trafford? As is always the case with United, they have been linked with players by the lorry load in recent months. A new name crops up almost every single day, but some of them you have to take with a pinch of salt. Nevertheless, there are some players who are understood to be concrete targets ahead of the summer, including Everton duo Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana , plus Bayer Leverkusen stars Edmond Tapsoba and Frimpong . It is understood each member of the aforementioned quartet are being monitored. Branthwaite, who was named in the
England squad for the first time last week, has also been linked with several other clubs, including
Real Madrid. Other names to have been regularly linked with United recently include
Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, highly-rated Benfica midfielder João Neves and Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee. Furthermore, a report by the Mirror on Thursday credited United with interest in Wolves midfielder João Gomes. Where could United strengthen most this summer? Just because United have drawn up a list of positions they want to bolster, it doesn't necessarily mean they will tick every box. Outgoings and the money generated from those sales will dictate what they can and cannot do. In an ideal world, United should prioritise strengthening at centre-back, in defensive-midfield and in central attack. Signing a right-back may not be as high up on the to-do list, such is the way Diogo Dalot has performed in recent months, as first thought. Manchester United are keeping tabs on Jeremie Frimpong. (Image: Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images.) There could possibly be a dramatic shift in the landscape of the club's centre-back options. Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans are out-of-contract at the end of the season, while there are no guarantees Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof will not be sold. If Varane is not handed a new deal, it is highly plausible that United will make signing a right-sided centre-back one of their leading objectives. Lisandro Martinez is arguably the only member of United's current centre-back pool who is a guaranteed starter. The addition of a second striker also feels highly necessary, likewise a new defensive-midfielder. Sourcing a player to fill the latter of those two positions has to take initial priority, though the acquisition of a new centre-forward cannot be underplayed. Who could leave? As reported by the Manchester Evening News last month, United are planning to become more proactive in the seller's market, meaning their could be a record number of sales. There are players in the ranks who are highly unlikely to have futures at the club beyond the end of this season, such as Hannibal Mejbri, Donny van de Beek and Facundo Pellistri, all of whom are currently out on loan. Jadon Sancho's future could depend on Erik ten Hag's while Mason Greenwood could be in a state of limbo, though would represent pure FFP profit should he be sold. Along with Varane, Evans and Martial, Tom Heaton is also out-of-contract this summer, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Lindelof are out-of-contract in June 2025. Lindelof has regularly been linked with an exit in the last couple of years. Scott McTominay, despite his contributions this season, is a sellable asset, even more so than he was last summer amid his exploits in front of goal so far this term. He could command a fee that could assist with remaining within the boundaries of the Profit and Sustainability rules. Maguire, too, could also be an attractive signing for several
Premier League clubs. He has once again been linked with West Ham United. Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, is understood to be of interest to
Paris St Germain and
Arsenal, and - like Greenwood - would also give United a monster FFP boost if he was sold. Cashing in on the two of the homegrown players could bring in around £120million. However, Ten Hag revealed last week that United don't want to sell the forward . "We did not sign him last season for five years with the intention to sell him now," Ten Hag stressed. "He should be part of this project. So it is not a subject we don't talk about."