Manchester United have two new transfer rules in place for the upcoming summer transfer window - they have no plans to overspend or become embroiled in lengthy negotiations. Monday's victory over Brentford moved United a step closer to securing Champions League football next season, which will almost certainly open the door for high-profile acquisitions this summer.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson is a firm target, though Manchester City are also eyeing the 23-year-old. A £100million fee has been mooted as his valuation, but should that figure rise to around £120m, United will walk away from the deal, with every player subject to a strict price ceiling, according to BBC Sport. The report further states that United intend to approach this summer's transfer window in a markedly different fashion to previous years, including steering clear of protracted negotiations.

While Casemiro has proved to be an outstanding acquisition for United, he was not originally on their radar in 2022. United had devoted much of that summer to pursuing Frenkie de Jong, and when that deal collapsed, a substantial portion of their budget was redirected towards securing the Casemiro transfer.

Lucrative contracts were also agreed with Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana, making it considerably more difficult for the club to offload both players. This has been highlighted by fresh reports from Sky Sports Germany, which indicate that Barcelona are pushing to secure a second loan for Rashford rather than triggering the £30million purchase option. United do not want to hamstring themselves further for the future by overspending on targets or contracts for current players this summer.

United appear to have already moved on from both Rashford and Onana, with Senne Lammens stepping in as the club's new first-choice goalkeeper following the latter's loan departure. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were also brought in during the summer, representing the blueprint of attracting quality players to the club at sensible fees.

Midfield has emerged as the most pressing area of concern, with Casemiro - who netted his ninth Premier League goal of the campaign against Brentford - set to leave at the end of the season, leaving United notably thin in that area.

Anderson remains United's primary target, though Old Trafford chiefs are confident there are several viable options available. Brighton's Carlos Baleba, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni have all been linked, while Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are also on the radar.

Ultimately, United are seeking a long-term midfield partner for Kobbie Mainoo, with the academy product delivering a series of impressive displays since Michael Carrick's arrival.

Speaking following the victory over Brentford, he said: "Like against Chelsea, he showed he was complete with and without the ball, in both defensive and offensive duties. We know he's capable of it and it's good to see him demonstrate it. He's in great form right now."

Mainoo has also spoken warmly of Carrick, with the United interim head coach proving instrumental in his return to the England squad. He said: "I've loved every minute of it, especially under the boss now. Just feeling the confidence."