Manchester United have already started their preseason work, with Michel Carrick taking charge of his first summer in the dugout. Across a series of friendlies in northern Europe, fringe players and academy prospects alike are trying to make their case for the months ahead.

Joshua Zirkzee is among those with the most to prove. His first spell at United has been marked by frustration, even with a winning Premier League debut offering early promise. Since then, the Dutch forward has added only eight more goals, including just two in 2025-26. He featured 26 times in all competitions last season after failing to convince Ruben Amorim or Carrick, and competition from Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo has only increased the pressure on him. A strong run in preseason, particularly against Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Milan, could alter the picture.

Mason Mount faces a different challenge. Injuries have repeatedly interrupted his time at Old Trafford, and he is still yet to reach 30 appearances in any of his three campaigns. Across 72 outings, he has managed seven goals and two assists. The midfielder has shown flashes of his best, but he now needs a healthy preseason to build momentum, especially with added competition from Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.

Leny Yoro arrived with a big reputation after United beat Liverpool and Real Madrid to his signing, but his progress has stalled. He has been unable to secure a regular place ahead of Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez, and his displays have not fully settled doubts.

Patrick Dorgu also needs to reassert himself after slipping down the pecking order under Amorim, then finding a new lease of life under Carrick before injury struck. Harry Amass, Toby Collyer and Shea Lacey are in similar situations, each hoping preseason can help define their role in the squad.

Manchester United have confirmed a major revision to their new-stadium programme, abandoning a previously targeted plot to the west of Old Trafford and moving the proposed ground to a newly acquired site north-west of their current home.

The proposal involves the construction of a new “Stadium District” that will be “purpose-built for sport, entertainment and year-round activity.” The club says the development will sit alongside Old Trafford to preserve matchday rituals while improving connectivity and fan facilities.

“The publication of the Wharfside Masterplan marks another significant milestone in our journey to create a new world-class home for Manchester United at the heart of a vibrant and transformational district for Trafford and Greater Manchester,” said stadium development CEO Collette Roche.

“Together with our partners, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a destination that creates lasting benefits for supporters, local communities and the wider region for decades to come.

“The proposed stadium site is ideally located alongside Old Trafford, enabling us to preserve the heritage, traditions and matchday rituals that are so important to our supporters, while also providing the connectivity and infrastructure required to deliver a truly world-class fan experience.

“We are committed to building a world-class stadium with our supporters, not simply for them. Atmosphere, affordability and accessibility will remain at the heart of our plans, and we look forward to continuing our engagement with fans and other stakeholders as we move into the next phase of design and development.”

The west-of-Old Trafford plot was the club’s initial target in March 2025, and negotiations were held with the landowner Freightliner. United valued that land at around $67 million (£50 million), but Freightliner sought roughly eight times that amount. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe made it clear United would not meet that asking price on a project already estimated to cost around $2.7 billion. The club has not disclosed the purchase price for the north-west site.

United had considered renovating Old Trafford, which has not had major work since 2006, but decided renovation proved more complicated and costly than building a new ground. The new stadium will form part of the Trafford Wharfside project, which also includes plans for new homes and business space. The club hopes to complete the move before the 2032–33 season, and no future use for the current stadium has been announced.

Manchester United have set out the next stage of Kai Rooney’s development after the 16-year-old was among 15 players awarded first-year scholar status.

Kai joined the club’s academy in 2020 at the age of 11 and has progressed through the age groups. He made his U-18s debut last summer at 15 and played at Old Trafford for the first time in an FA Youth Cup match in January, with his father watching from the stands.

The first-year scholar year is the opening half of a two-season scholarship designed to bridge academy football and the senior game. Kai will turn 17 a few months into the program’s second year, the earliest point at which he could be offered a first professional contract if the club deem him ready. The end of the two-year scholarship is a decisive moment in an academy career; not all scholars move up to the U-21s on professional terms and some are released.

Kai is not alone in this intake. Jacey Carrick, Michael Carrick’s son, is also 16 and arrives as a defensive midfielder in the same group. Last season’s first-year scholars will now move into the second year; together the two groups will form the club’s U-18s for the forthcoming season under Darren Fletcher.

Position

Players

Goalkeeper

Jake Ford

Defenders

Harley Emsden-James, Idris Fabiyi, Gazimagamed Ibragimov, Connor Laurie, Samuel O’Brien

Midfielders

Jaume Camacho Sidos, Jacey Carrick, Harlem McLaughlin, Jodie Nganga, Pharell Silvester, Emmanuel Ziro

Forwards

Edson Dejonge-Seiros, Camron Mpofu, Kai Rooney

Wayne Rooney watches his sons regularly. Klay, born 2013, is also in the club academy, while youngest Cass, born 2018, plays in Everton’s junior ranks. Kit, born 2016, no longer plays soccer and is apparently more into darts.

“I just let him play,” Rooney said of Kai in particular to the BBC in 2025. “He has great coaches at Manchester United, so I take a stand off approach. I speak to him, but for me it’s all about his mentality and his mindset, to make sure he keeps enjoying it—that’s the main thing for me.”

On Stick to Football in 2024 Rooney added: “[He has] my physique, but he’ll be taller than me and he’s a goalscorer, he’s in the box, he sniffs chances out and that’s his game.” A recent image shared on Instagram showed Kai already close to his father’s height, with Rooney listed at 5’9″.

Father and son professional pairings are common in the sport and some footballing families span three or four generations. Several former Manchester United stars had sons who became professionals; Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce and Paul Ince each had sons, Kasper, Alex and Thomas respectively, who did not play for the Red Devils. Darren Fletcher’s twin sons, Jack and Tyler, made five first-team appearances between them last season.