As the new 2025/26 season approaches, Man United and Tottenham are rebuilding their squads with some crucial signings already wrapped up.
Ruben Amorim and Thomas Frank are acutely aware of the demand to secure UEFA Champions League qualification at the end of the campaign with Spurs reaching the incoming UCL after beating United in May’s Europa League final.
United have moved quickly in the summer market as the Red Devils landed a deal for Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha and 18-year-old defensive prospect Diego Leon.
Amorim remains in talks with Brentford over a deal for dynamic attacker Bryan Mbeumo, a player seen as someone who could inject much-needed pace and creativity into the final third, with Amorim looking to sell Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
However, midfield remains a lingering concern, especially with Casemiro’s legs slowing down and Kobbie Mainoo still developing into the player Amorim hopes he can become.
Similarly, Tottenham know they cannot rely solely on young talents like Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall to shoulder the weight of the Spurs engine room for a full season.
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A fresh rivalry was renewed following Spurs’ historic final win in Bilbao and the two clubs could go head-to-head in the transfer market.
Man United and Tottenham chase Bundesliga star
Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha, who impressed in the Premier League with Fulham, is now at the center of an emerging transfer war between Amorim and Frank.
Caught Offside claim United have approached the Bundesliga champions with a loan offer, but the Bavarians prefer a permanent deal worth between £26-30m [$35-40m].
Tottenham, as per to TBR Football, are exploring multiple transfer options and have floated the idea of including Yves Bissouma in a swap deal to land Douglas Luiz from Juventus, but Palhinha remains on their radar.
Former side Fulham and West Ham United are also keeping tabs on Palhinha, but it increasingly looks like a straight fight between the white and red sides of North London and Manchester.
Palhinha, 30, brings a proven track record in English football, having made 68 Premier League appearances where his tackling, physicality and positioning made him one of Fulham’s standout players.
Though injuries limited him last season in Germany, United and Spurs view him as an option to add steel and stability to the heart of their midfields.
