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.

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.

Ruben Amorim has admitted he is “trying” to shift away from the 3-4-2-1 shape that has defined Manchester United since his arrival. The head coach’s comments follow a 3-1 loss to Brentford that was United’s third league defeat in their opening six games.

The defeat, against a Brentford side whose primary aim is to avoid relegation, exposed structural issues. Bees boss Keith Andrews summarised how his side exploited United’s formation: “You try and create overloads”, the former set-piece coach outlined. “One of which would be if we have a three-man midfield, they have a two.”

Amorim acknowledged the need for adaptation and hinted at tactical flexibility while speaking to TNT Sports. “I think again the fun part is trying to adapt the way you see football to every system of the the opponent,” he told TNT Sports . “I’m always saying the same thing. This is going to evolve. We are going to change the the system. But it’s not a normal system and sometimes you take longer to go from this system to another systems.

“And that’s what I’m doing. I’m just trying to coach the team the way I see football.”

Defender Matthijs de Ligt argued that individual performances — including his own — are more to blame than the system. The persistent selection of players who lack the natural attributes for the 3-4-2-1 is also highlighted as a factor undermining those individual displays.

Despite Amorim’s stated willingness to adapt, opponents now approach matches with a clear idea of how United will set up. The coach admitted the pattern is recognisable: “The funny thing is that you need to have like a team to understand—not the outcome—but you already understand how the game will be, [if] we are going to have control,” the former Sporting CP coach explained. “This is going to happen. Maybe we lose because of one transition or one set pieces, but the game is going to be like this. ]”

The manager’s attempt to recalibrate his approach is underway, but results and performances suggest the transition will not be straightforward.