Manchester United started slowly last season after leaving it late to make signings, and they appear keen to avoid the same mistake this time around.
New manager Erik ten Hag had to wait until July 5 for his first signing, while marquee arrivals Casemiro and Antony didn't arrive until the season had already started. United still finished third, but only after losing their first two Premier League games.
With a week of June remaining, Ten Hag could soon be celebrating getting his first deal over the line. Here are the latest transfer lines from around Old Trafford.
Mount agreement close
Man Utd are closing in on a deal for Mason Mount, with the fee for the England international expected to reach £60m. That's still down on the £70m initially wanted by Chelsea, where Mount is under contract until 2024.
The 24-year-old is one of a number of first-teamers set to leave this summer. N'Golo Kante has already moved on, while the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech are both on the verge of departures at the time of writing.
Mount had been in talks with Chelsea over a new deal. However, with no progress made, the Blues are ready to let the academy product move to pastures new.
Fred price set
Man Utd are prepared to entertain offers of around £20m for midfielder Fred, according to The Telegraph. The Brazil international cost more than £50m when he joined from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018, but has just one year left on his current deal.
Fulham have reportedly registered an interest in the United man, though they have yet to lodge a bid. Marco Silva's side raided Man Utd last summer for Andreas Pereira, who enjoyed a solid debut season in West London.
Fred featured in 35 of United's 38 Premier League games last season, scoring twice. However, just 12 of those 35 appearances were starts.
What would represent a good summer for Man Utd? Have your say in the comments section
Ten Hag given striker advice
Former Man Utd striker Dwight Yorke believes Erik ten Hag needs to add a striker with pace to United's ranks. The Red Devils have been linked with a number of attacking talents of different profiles, including Harry Kane, Rasmus Hojlund and Victor Osimhen.
"United want someone with a little bit of pace, threatening defenders, players who can get you the goals," Yorke told Mirror Football on behalf of MatchCenter.. "That's an area that has been struggling, they don't make No.9's that way inclined too much like [Erling] Haaland.
"That's why I said two years ago this is a guy you need to buy for £150million and people looked at me and thought, wow, I was crazy. But he's proved he is a rare breed."
