Manchester United
Premier League • England
Man Utd midfield targets: EVERY option linked for the summer 2024 transfer window
Youssouf Fofana, Sander Berge and Richard Rios have all been linked with Man Utd
Manchester United are looking to overhaul their midfield in the summer transfer window, so here are all the potential targets who may be of interest to them.
Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes were among United’s standout performers in 2023/24 but Casemiro, Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen have all been linked with moves away from Old Trafford.
Below, TEAMtalk guides you through all the midfielders that Manchester United have been linked with since the last transfer window closed. We tell you their ages, current clubs, contract situations and what the level of interest might be.
Note: we’ve not included the likes of Joao Neves and Amadou Onana, who were linked with United but have since completed moves to other clubs.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS
PREMIER LEAGUE
Edson Alvarez
Club: West Ham
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2028
Alvarez starred under Erik ten Hag during their time together at Ajax, winning two Eredivisie titles and a KNVB Cup with the Dutchman.
He moved to West Ham in the summer of 2023 and Fabrizio Romano revealed that United officials have discussed a potential move for the Mexico international.
Carlos Baleba
Club: Brighton
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2028
Baleba enjoyed a promising debut season at Brighton in 2023/24 and online reports in England claim that United, Arsenal and Liverpool are all showing an interest in the 20-year-old.
Bruno Guimaraes
Club: Newcastle
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2028
Guimaraes joined Newcastle from Lyon in January 2022 and has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Although other clubs such as Manchester City and Arsenal might be more keen on the Brazil international, there have been rumours that he could be on United’s radar.
Adam Wharton
Club: Crystal Palace
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2029
Since joining Palace from Blackburn Rovers in the January transfer window, Wharton has made a seamless transition to Premier League football and online reports in England claim that he is in United’s sights.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Hayden Hackney
Club: Middlesbrough
Age: 22
Contract expires: 2027
Hackney has impressed under the tutelage of Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick and has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, including United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham.
Ben Sheaf
Club: Coventry City
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2026
An Arsenal academy graduate, Sheaf played against United in the 2023/24 FA Cup semi-final and recent reports suggest that he has been profiled by INEOS’ recruitment setup.
PRIMEIRA LIGA
Morten Hjulmand
Club: Sporting CP
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2028
Hjulmand helped Sporting CP win the Primeira Liga title in 2023/24 and online reports in England claim that United have identified the Denmark international as a priority target.
🇩🇰 Hjulmand from distance!#EUROGOTT | @AlipayPlus pic.twitter.com/Af8Nj2qnTl
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 20, 2024
Alan Varela
Club: Porto
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2028
Reports in Portugal claim that United, West Ham and Aston Villa are all looking at Varela, who has a £60million release clause in his Porto contract.
OTHER LEAGUES
Sofyan Amrabat
Club: Fiorentina
Age: 27
Contract expires: 2025
Amrabat spent the 2023/24 season on loan at United and made 30 appearances in all competitions, including a brilliant performance in the FA Cup final.
Fabrizio Romano revealed that United won’t trigger a £16.8million buy option but they do remain interested in the Morocco international.
Andre
Club: Fluminense
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2026
Andre has been consistently linked with a move to the Premier League and Fluminense recently rejected a £25million bid from Fulham.
United have reportedly joined the race for his signature and Fluminense may be willing to accept a fee in the region of £30million.
Kristjan Asllani
Club: Inter Milan
Age: 22
Contract expires: 2027
According to reports in Italy, United are interested in Asslani and could look to sign the Albania international in a deal that sees Aaron Wan-Bissaka move in the opposite direction.
Manuel Ugarte
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2028
Ugarte is looking to leave Paris Saint-Germain after a difficult debut season with the Ligue 1 side and has agreed personal terms with United.
But PSG are holding out for £51.4million for the Uruguay international and United have made it clear that they are unwilling to meet their valuation.
Oscar Zambrano
Club: L.D.U Quito
Age: 20
Contract expires: N/A
Zambrano has been dubbed as the ‘new Moises Caicedo’ and reports in his native Ecuador claim that he has attracted interest from United, Brighton and Luton Town.
Martin Zubimendi
Club: Real Sociedad
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2027
United have been linked with Zubimendi but Liverpool are currently leading the race for the Spain international, who has £51.6million release clause in his Real Sociedad contract.
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
PREMIER LEAGUE
Danilo
Club: Nottingham Forest
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2029
Online reports in England claim that Danilo is on United’s radar, but they could face competition from Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle.
Conor Gallagher
Club: Chelsea
Age: 24
Contract expires: 2025
These reports came when former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was being linked with the United job and there hasn’t been much trace of them since.
Joao Gomes
Club: Wolves
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2028
According to a report in a British tabloid, United have sent scouts to watch Gomes on several occasions and are weighing up a move for the Brazil international.
Winning the ball back 🤝 @GomesOficial08 pic.twitter.com/rv9alRIKNN
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 16, 2023
CHAMPIONSHIP
Sander Berge
Club: Burnley
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2027
Berge was a standout performer for Burnley in the 2023/24 season, but he was unable to prevent their relegation to the Championship.
Chris Rigg
Club: Sunderland
Age: 17
Contract expires: 2027
United were monitoring Rigg’s situation at Sunderland, but he’s now signed a three-year professional contract with the Championship side.
LA LIGA
Frenkie de Jong
Club: Barcelona
Age: 27
Contract expires: 2026
United tried to sign De Jong in the summer of 2022 and they agreed a deal with Barcelona, but he decided to stay at Camp Nou.
Reports out of Manchester claim that United have reignited their interest in the Netherlands international and are open to completing a deal if a fee around the £30m-£40million mark can be agreed.
Javi Guerra
Club: Valencia
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2027
According to reports in Spain, United sent scouts to watch Guerra on numerous occasions in 2023/24 and they have been impressed by the 21-year-old.
Fermin Lopez
Club: Barcelona
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2027
Lopez enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2023/24 and reports in Spain suggest that United submitted a £25million bid for the 21-year-old.
But Barcelona are said to have swiftly rejected the offer and stated that any further discussions would require an ‘irrefutable’ bid.
Mikel Merino
Club: Real Sociedad
Age: 28
Contract expires: 2025
Merino helped Spain win Euro 2024 earlier this summer and was linked with a move to United, but the 28-year-old now looks set to join Arsenal.
SERIE A
Nicolo Barella
Club: Inter Milan
Age: 27
Contract expires: 2026
Online reports in Italy claimed that United were willing to submit a £69million offer for Barella, but he’s now signed new contract at Inter.
Ederson
Club: Atalanta
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2027
A number of outlets in both England and Italy revealed that United sent scouts to watch Ederson, who played a key role in Atalanta’s run to Europa League glory in 2023/24.
Weston McKennie
Club: Juventus
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2025
According to online reports in England, United have identified McKennie as a potential back-up option if they miss out on their top targets in the transfer window.
OTHER LEAGUES
Youssouf Fofana
Club: Monaco
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2025
Reports in France claim that United are looking to hijack AC Milan’s move for Fofana, who has entered the final year of his Monaco contract and is valued at around £25million.
Since the beginning of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season, Youssouf Fofana has won possession in the midfield third more times (297) than any other player. 💪 pic.twitter.com/LEKFKUgSWr
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 23, 2024
Daniel Kelly
Club: Celtic
Age: 18
Contract expires: 2024
Kelly has less than five months left on his Celtic contract and reports in Scotland claim that United and Tottenham are tracking his progress.
Sverre Nypan
Club: Rosenborg
Age: 17
Contract expires: 2026
A British tabloid revealed that Nypan – who has been compared to Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard – is well-liked by United and is seen as a potential transfer target.
Exequiel Palacios
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2028
Palacios helped Bayer Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title in 2023/24 and reports in Germany claim that the Argentina international is now on United’s radar.
Adrien Rabiot
Club: N/A
Age: 29
Rabiot is now available on a free transfer following the expiration of his Juventus contract and TEAMtalk sources can confirm that the France international has set his sights on joining United.
Richard Rios
Club: Palmeiras
Age: 24
Contract expires: 2026
Rios shot to prominence at the 2024 Copa America and his impressive performances helped Colombia reach the final, where they lost 1-0 to Argentina.
He has since been linked with a number of European clubs and reports in Brazil claim that United are ready to offer £17million for the 24-year-old.
Joey Veerman
Club: PSV Eindhoven
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2026
Veerman was a key member of the PSV squad that won the Eredivisie title in 2023/24 and online reports in England claim that United have identified the Netherlands international as a potential target.
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
PREMIER LEAGUE
Eberechi Eze
Club: Crystal Palace
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2027
A British tabloid claimed that United have joined Tottenham in the race for Eze, who has a £60million release clause in his Crystal Palace contract.
Mohammed Kudus
Club: West Ham
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2028
Kudus worked under Ten Hag at Ajax and reports in England claim that United could rival Liverpool in their pursuit of the Ghana international.
Simply. Sensational. pic.twitter.com/x3og9iBfFq
— West Ham United (@WestHam) March 16, 2024
Lucas Paqueta
Club: West Ham
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2027
While United have been linked with Paqueta, a move now looks unlikely as the Brazil international has been charged by the FA over alleged breaches of betting rules.
Daniel Rigge
Club: West Ham
Age: 18
Contract expires: N/A
An online report revealed that United and Arsenal are tracking Rigge, although Tottenham are currently leading the race for his signature.
LA LIGA
Brahim Diaz
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 24
Contract expires: 2027
While United have shown an interest in Diaz, his representatives have reportedly made it clear that he is not looking to leave Madrid this summer.
BUNDESLIGA
Jamal Musiala
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2026
Musiala is regarded as one of the best-attacking midfielders in Europe and has been linked with the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Reports in Spain – not necessarily from the most reliable outlets – suggest that United have now joined the race for his signature.
Dani Olmo
Club: RB Leipzig
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2027
A British tabloid reported that United are maintaining a watching brief on Olmo, but the Spain international now looks set to join Barcelona in a £51.7million deal.
Florian Wirtz
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2027
Wirtz won the Bundesliga Player of the Season award in 2023/24 and his performances have reportedly attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs, including United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
SERIE A
Teun Koopmeiners
Club: Atalanta
Age: 26
Contract expires: 2027
Reports in Italy claim that United will rival Liverpool and Juventus for Koopmeiners and they are willing to pay between €60-70million to secure his signature.
Simone Pafundi
Club: Udinese (on loan at FC Lausanne-Sport)
Age: 18
Contract expires: 2026
Pafundi came through the academy at Udinese and is currently on loan at Swiss Super League side FC Lausanne-Sport, who are owned by INEOS.
According to reports in Italy, FC Lausanne-Sport will make the deal permanent for €15million but the 18-year-old could ultimately end up at Old Trafford.
LIGUE 1
Rayan Cherki
Club: Lyon
Age: 20
Contract expires: 2025
Online reports in England claim that United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to bring Cherki to Old Trafford and his links in France may help their pursuit of the 20-year-old.
Angel Gomes
Club: Lille
Age: 23
Contract expires: 2025
A United academy graduate, Gomes left Old Trafford on a free transfer in 2020 but online reports in England claim that they are now weighing up a move to re-sign the 23-year-old.
Xavi Simons
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2027
While United were credited with an interest in Simons, the 21-year-old now looks set to return to RB Leipzig on another season-long loan deal.
OTHER LEAGUES
Jobe Bellingham
Club: Sunderland
Age: 18
Contract expires: N/A
The younger brother of Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Jobe registered seven goals and one assist in the Championship in 2023/24.
TEAMtalk understands that United are keeping an eye on the 18-year-old from a distance, although he looks set to stay at Sunderland this summer.
Franco Mastantuono
Club: River Plate
Age: 16
Contract expires: 2026
United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have all been keeping tabs on Mastantouno, who has a £38million release clause in his contract.
Tomas Parmo
Club: Independiente
Age: 16
Contract expires: 2026
Parmo is managed by former United striker Carlos Tevez and the Red Devils have reportedly sent scouts to Argentina to watch the 16-year-old.
Georgiy Sudakov
Club: Shakhtar Donetsk
Age: 21
Contract expires: 2028
Sudakov is widely considered the next top talent to emerge from Ukrainian football and has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs, including United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea.
🇺🇦🤩 Giorgi Sudakov (21) with a truly fantastic solo goal for Shakhtar! ⚡️ @sudakov_11 is one to watch… 📈 pic.twitter.com/LB7ffO4NRp
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 4, 2024
Sebastian Szymanski
Club: Fenerbahce
Age: 25
Contract expires: 2027
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