Man United transfer news LIVE: £Carlos Baleba medical, £34m Luke Shaw successor, latest updates today

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live Manchester United transfer news blog on Sunday, August 23!

After Michael Carrick oversaw a horrendous 2-0 defeat to Hull City in Saturday's 2026-27 Premier League opener, calls ought to grow louder for reinforcements before the September 1 deadline.

Stay entirely up to date with the latest Man United done deals and rumours with our social-led live blog below!

Man United transfer news today: What's happening on August 23?

The defining human interest story of United's opening weekend was Marcus Rashford's return to first-team action against Hull City, with the 28-year-old back in the fold after returning from his loan spell at Barcelona, where he scored 14 goals and 11 assists before the Catalans chose not to trigger their purchase option.

Carrick confirmed Rashford's availability while separately explaining the absence of Amad Diallo from the Hull squad, describing the situation as disappointing but not a long-term concern for the winger.

Further back, the left-back position remains unresolved following the setback involving Jorge Salinas of Racing Santander, whose £13.5m release clause attracted United's attention but who is now understood to be close to joining Atletico Madrid after the Spanish club accelerated their pursuit.

David Raum of RB Leipzig remains under consideration as an alternative route to addressing the Luke Shaw succession question, with United holding concrete interest in the German left-back at a reported valuation of around £34m, as well as Barcelona's Alejandro Balde.

From possible future Man United defenders to past Man United defenders, Willy Kambwala is on the verge of signing for Cesc Fabregas's Como from Villarreal, a move that will earn his erstwhile employers a transfer windfall following his time in the academy.

Above all else, though, fans are eagerly awaiting the announcement of Carlos Baleba's £70m signing from Brighton & Hove Albion, after Friday's transfer agreement set the wheels in motion.

Baleba is thought to have undergone his Red Devils medical during the defeat to Hull, and it is now only a matter of time before he is unveiled by the 20-time English champions.