Liverpool tried to sign Malo Gusto on deadline day, but the move did not get beyond the structure of the deal. Chelsea wanted a permanent transfer, so the loan idea never materialised. At the same time, Manchester United are planning to make three defensive signings next summer, which is a pretty blunt sign that their back line is already being assessed against what comes next.

Chelsea's line on deal structure

The Gusto move was not the only late Chelsea story in the roundup. They also made a late attempt to sign Alex Scott, but Bournemouth had no interest in selling him this summer. Scott has made 2 Premier League appearances this season and has a 7.4 rating, which helps explain why Chelsea were still looking for another midfielder even as they kept their line firm on exits.

Chelsea's recent Premier League run has been uneven, and they finished 10th in the 2025 Premier League. That context fits the stance they took here: active in the market, but not willing to bend on the terms they wanted.

United's defensive audit

United's reported plan to add three defenders next summer sits alongside a squad that is being judged right now. Luke Shaw has no Premier League appearances in the 2026 sample, Harry Maguire has 2, Lisandro Martinez has 1 and Matthijs de Ligt has 1, while Shaw, Maguire, Martinez and de Ligt were described as being 'on trial' this season.

The headline figure is not hard to read. United finished 3rd in the 2025 Premier League with a record of 20 wins, 11 draws and 7 defeats, so this is not a case of a club reacting to total collapse. It is a side that still wants more certainty at the back, and the reported three-signing plan matches that.

Chido Obi-Martin also comes up in the roundup, with the striker keen on a loan move to the Netherlands or his native Denmark and Feyenoord among the interested clubs. That sits in the same broad pattern: United are already making decisions about which young players need minutes and which senior areas need rebuilding.

Liverpool, meanwhile, finished 5th in the 2025 Premier League and have continued to act like a club that still sees room for more depth. The next checkpoint in this gossip cycle is whether United's defensive planning becomes concrete once next summer arrives.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →