Manchester United have emerged as a leading suitor for Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović, with sources describing the club as “at the forefront” of those exploring a January move. Competition remains from both English and European rivals, with Chelsea also credited with interest.

Vlahović stayed at Juve after rejecting offers over the summer, but Gazzetta dello Sport reports he has been made available for sale in 2026. The striker is understood to be Juve’s No. 9 and is thought to be Serie A’s highest-paid player, on an annual salary of €12 million (£10.5 million, $14.1 million).

With his contract running toward expiry in June, Juventus have lowered their price expectations. There is talk that a fee in the region of €10–15 million could be acceptable in January, given the alternative of allowing him to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season. Offloading six months of Vlahović’s wages would also be seen as a significant financial relief for the club.

United invested in excess of €230 million during the summer window on a revamped frontline, the centre piece being Benjamin Šeško. Despite that expenditure, Ruben Amorim’s ailing outfit have scarcely enjoyed a considerable uplift in results, even if the underlying attacking numbers offer more encouragement.

Juventus strengthened their forward ranks by signing Loïs Openda and Jonathan David over the summer, leaving them with a surplus of strikers. That recruitment could force Juve to retain Vlahović until his contract expires.

Abroad, Bayern Munich are reportedly considering Vlahović as an affordable target next summer, according to BILD. The Bavarian club’s interest is linked to wider speculation over Harry Kane, who has been repeatedly connected with an exit in 2026 and is expected to be available for €65 million because of a clause in his contract.

The coming months are likely to test Juventus’ willingness to accept a reduced fee and United’s appetite to add another forward to a frontline already heavily bolstered in the summer.

Bryan Mbeumo has pushed back on the notion that Ruben Amorim’s tactical setup is the root cause of Manchester United’s early issues. Signed this summer to help United adapt to the new arrangement after operating both as a striker and a winger in a similar role at Brentford, Mbeumo urged focus on the squad’s response rather than the system itself.

“It’s a little different for me,” he told Sky Sports. “I’ve played this system in the past as well.” Mbeumo argued that external criticism should not distract the players from finding positives and fixing details on the pitch.

His remarks follow similar comments from defender Matthijs de Ligt, who has asked team-mates to shoulder more responsibility for results instead of directing blame at Amorim. Mbeumo expanded on that position, emphasising collective accountability.

“I think everyone in the team needs to take responsibility,” Mbeumo continued. “When you play in a club this big, everyone needs to know what to do. As a team, we need to do better.” The forward made clear he sees the issues as fixable and linked to the squad adapting to each other rather than a fundamental flaw in tactical shape.

Despite the turbulence surrounding the club’s start, Mbeumo said his early months at Old Trafford have been positive. He highlighted the challenge of building combinations with new team-mates and expressed confidence in improvement as players grow accustomed to each other.

“It’s exciting, because we get to learn to play with new players and it’s always challenging, but that’s what we like as footballers,” he added. “Of course it will improve, we haven’t played a lot together, so there are certain things that we’re going to improve, and there are different types of players, but it’s good to be with them.”

Manchester United are reportedly exploring the possibility of staging a midseason friendly in Saudi Arabia as the club navigates a difficult run of results and continued financial strain. According to The Athletic, the club is examining potential opponents but cannot formalise any arrangements until Premier League match dates are confirmed.

The decision stems in part from the unusual calendar the club faces this term. United do not have European fixtures this season, and an early exit from the Carabao Cup following a second-round defeat to League Two Grimsby Town has left the squad with free midweeks through to December. A trip to the Middle East would offer warm-weather training amid dropping temperatures and carry significant commercial appeal.

On the pitch, Ruben Amorim remains under pressure after a troubled 2024–25 campaign and a slow start to the new season. The Red Devils were beaten 3–1 by Brentford on Saturday and sit 14th in the Premier League table. Under the Portuguese manager United are yet to record back-to-back Premier League wins.

Financial context is central to the planning. The club supposedly carry £750 million ($1.1 billion) in debt and recorded their sixth consecutive loss in the 2024–25 accounts. Missing out on Champions League qualification cost an estimated £85 million ($115 million) after a defeat in the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. The club also declined an All or Nothing Amazon documentary that “could’ve netted an extra £10 million ($13.64 million),” a move Amorim insisted on.

A midseason friendly in Saudi Arabia would be rare for a Premier League club but offers both sporting and commercial benefits. United are assessing the options while waiting for the fixture calendar to allow any such match to be scheduled. For now, planning remains exploratory rather than finalised.