5 free agents Manchester United could consider
Manchester United has five points from its first five Premier League matches of 2026/27, with one victory, two draws and two defeats through September 20, 2026.
Manchester United also exited the League Cup on September 16 after a 3 2 home loss to Brighton, creating another reason to examine experienced players who remain unattached for clubs outside the main transfer window.
Manchester United could consider Benzema
Karim Benzema became a free agent at the end of August after Al Hilal and the 38-year-old French striker mutually terminated his contract, which had been scheduled to run through June 2027.
Benzema scored 10 goals and supplied 5 assists in 16 appearances during a spell that began when he joined Al Hilal from Al Ittihad in February 2026.
Manchester United could use Benzema
Karim Benzema would offer Manchester United a proven central striker with 97 caps for France and a Real Madrid career that included 5 Champions League titles before he moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023.
Manchester United scored 8 Premier League goals across its first 5 matches, while Benjamin Šeško missed the September 20 draw at Fulham because of a recurring shin problem. That absence could make another experienced attacking option relevant for United’s upcoming fixtures.
Manchester United could revisit Sancho
Jadon Sancho left Manchester United in June 2026 and remains a free agent at age 26 after loan spells with Chelsea and Aston Villa over the previous two seasons.
Sancho made 23 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa in 2025/26, playing 872 minutes and recording 2 assists, while his 2024/25 Chelsea loan produced 3 league goals during his second consecutive loan campaign.
Manchester United could add Sancho
Jadon Sancho made 58 Premier League appearances for Manchester United and scored 9 goals across his 3 league seasons at the club.
His 2024/25 Chelsea loan included 31 Premier League appearances, 3 goals and 4 assists, providing a recent sample of his output in English football and European competition.
Fun fact: Paul Pogba scored France’s third goal in the 2018 World Cup final, helping Les Bleus beat Croatia 4-2 and win their second World Cup.
Manchester United could assess Sterling
Raheem Sterling is available after his short Feyenoord contract ended in May 2026, following 8 Eredivisie appearances and 1 assist during his final months in the Netherlands before becoming unattached again this summer.
Sterling previously won four Premier League titles with Manchester City and earned 82 England caps, while his Chelsea period produced 59 league appearances and 14 goals across three seasons during that period.
Manchester United could use Sterling
Raheem Sterling is available after his short-term Feyenoord contract expired at the end of the 2025/26 season. He made 8 Eredivisie appearances and recorded 1 assist during his spell in the Netherlands before becoming a free agent again in July 2026.
Sterling previously won 4 Premier League titles with Manchester City and earned 82 England caps. His Chelsea career produced 59 Premier League appearances and 14 goals across 2 seasons.
Manchester United could consider Pogba
Paul Pogba became a free agent on August 19 after Monaco mutually ended his contract, following a 2025/26 Ligue 1 season limited to 6 appearances and 115 minutes before leaving Monaco.
Pogba is 33 and won the 2018 World Cup with France, while his previous Manchester United spell included 20 Premier League appearances, 1 goal and 9 assists in 2021/22 at the club.
Manchester United should assess Pogba
Paul Pogba’s recent availability is the main concern because Monaco used him for only 115 Ligue 1 minutes last season, including one start, after his return from suspension, before he became unattached.
Manchester United already has midfielders facing availability concerns, with Kobbie Mainoo forced off against Fulham and Manuel Ugarte listed among players sidelined around the same September period, according to reports surrounding the September 20 match.
Manchester United could target Aribo
Joe Aribo became a free agent when Southampton confirmed his departure in June 2026 after four seasons, 111 total appearances and 9 goals for the club in all competitions.
Aribo then made 6 Championship appearances for Leicester City during a 2026 loan, while his earlier Rangers career produced 149 appearances, 26 goals and a Scottish Premiership title after completing his 2025/26 loan spell there.
Manchester United could value Aribo
Joe Aribo can operate in several midfield and attacking roles. He played 57 matches in all competitions for Rangers during 2021/22, scoring 9 goals and helping the club reach the Europa League final.
Manchester United used a 4-2-3-1 starting formation throughout its opening Premier League matches, making an experienced midfielder who can cover multiple positions a potentially useful squad-depth option.
Manchester United have 5 free agent options
Karim Benzema offers the strongest recent scoring record, with 10 goals in 16 appearances for Al Hilal. Jadon Sancho offers youth and Premier League familiarity, while Raheem Sterling brings extensive top-flight experience on both wings.
Paul Pogba provides central-midfield experience, while Joe Aribo offers versatility and previous Premier League experience. All 5 players remained free agents as of October 3, 2026, giving Manchester United potential options across attack and midfield.
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Manchester United should prioritize readiness
Karim Benzema’s 10 goals and 5 assists in 16 Al Hilal appearances give him the strongest recent scoring record, while Sancho’s 23 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa provide a younger alternative among the 5 players considered here.
Sterling made 8 Eredivisie appearances for Feyenoord, Aribo played 6 Championship matches for Leicester City and Pogba accumulated 115 Ligue 1 minutes for Monaco. Their sharply different recent workloads should be an important consideration in assessing immediate readiness.
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Which free agent should Manchester United target first to strengthen the squad? Share your picks in the comments!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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