Manchester United have received encouraging updates regarding the fitness of three key players ahead of the 2025/26 season. Joshua Zirkzee, André Onana, and Lisandro Martínez are all progressing in their recoveries, raising hopes for their availability as the campaign approaches.

Zirkzee described his injury as “a small injury” and remains optimistic about a swift return. “It shouldn’t take too long to recover now,” he told the media. He praised the support from the club’s medical team, saying, “I’ve got great physios working with me every day. It’s not a serious problem. It’s pre-season so unlike last season where I wanted to push myself to be back for the final, obviously now I just want to be there for the start of the season.”

Goalkeeper André Onana, initially expected to miss the first month of the Premier League season, might recover sooner than anticipated. Reports indicate he could be fit by August 9, in time for a friendly against Fiorentina at Old Trafford.

Defender Lisandro Martínez’s recovery is less advanced following his ACL rupture in February. However, he is now working with the ball and running on grass as he builds towards training with the team. Zirkzee cited Martínez as an inspiration during his own rehabilitation: “Someone who has motivated me a lot is Lisandro Martínez who has been out for quite some time. To see how mentally he keeps himself ready and the way he works to be back in the best way he can is something I’m thankful for.”

The trio’s return is a bright spot for Manchester United, who endured a difficult previous season, including a painful Europa League final loss and their worst Premier League campaign to date. Manager Amorim remains optimistic, declaring in May, “The good days are coming,” following a period of adversity.

These updates offer renewed hope for United fans as the team prepares for the new season with a focus on rebuilding and resilience.

Jadon Sancho is reportedly ready to accept a significant reduction in his salary to facilitate a move back to Borussia Dortmund. After two unremarkable seasons in the Premier League, the winger sees returning to Dortmund as the best chance to recapture his earlier form. Previously, Juventus showed interest in signing Sancho but had to put their pursuit on hold due to other transfer dealings. Meanwhile, Dortmund are once again considering bringing Sancho back to Signal Iduna Park, where he originally made his mark between 2017 and 2021 and impressed during a loan spell in early 2024.

Sancho currently earns a net salary of €16 million at Manchester United but is willing to halve his wages to around €8 million to secure a third stint with Dortmund. This amount would not place him among the club’s highest-paid players but highlights his determination to revive his career in a familiar environment. The winger has communicated this intention to Dortmund officials, although the club’s sporting director, Sebastian Kehl, has downplayed the likelihood of such a transfer so far.

Interest from Juventus remains more tangible, but if Dortmund pursue the deal, Sancho is expected to favour a return to Germany. The player first joined Dortmund from Manchester City’s academy in 2017, making 137 appearances that yielded 50 goals and 57 assists before his £73 million move to Manchester United in 2021. His output since moving to England has been modest by comparison, with only 17 goals and 16 assists combined during his time at both United and Chelsea. Sancho aims to find the confidence that once made him a top Bundesliga talent.

Manchester United recently impressed with a 4-0 victory over Bournemouth at Soldier Field in Chicago during the Premier League Summer Series. Yet, it is the words of their manager, Ruben Amorim, that might generate even greater anticipation among supporters for the upcoming season.

Amorim remarked, “It was just a preseason game but the feeling with the same players, even being a preseason game, if you look at the same players now playing, it looks like a different team and that is a good sign.” This notion of transformation is particularly welcome given the club’s challenging Premier League campaigns in recent years.

The Portuguese coach took the opportunity to laud United’s defensive work against Bournemouth’s attackers Evanilson and Antoine Semenyo and singled out Luke Shaw and the team’s unity for praise. With the full preseason at his disposal, Amorim can fine-tune his tactical approach and philosophy with the squad.

Investment in the squad is clear, with summer signings including Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo—the latter possibly debuting in their final Summer Series match against Everton. Amorim also commented on striker Rasmus Højlund’s contribution: “I’m really happy with Rasmus. I don’t know what is going to happen until the end of the market. The important thing is that the strikers that are here are working really well, are improving, are helping the team and that is the most important thing.”

Højlund’s enthusiasm after scoring in preseason was noted by commentators Tim Howard and Peter Drury, indicating his drive. Meanwhile, Patrick Dorgu delivered his best performance for United since joining in January, a notable positive given the importance of wingbacks in Amorim’s tactical setup.

Manchester United will conclude their Summer Series campaign on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET in Atlanta against Everton. The early signs suggest a squad on the rise with a cohesive identity under Ruben Amorim’s stewardship.