da realbet： Manchester United’s central midfield department has been one that has been up for debate, with numerous players trying to stake their claim for a regular starting role.
da aviator aposta： Ruben Amorim has often struggled to find his best partnership in such an area of the pitch, leading to countless players being utilised in the middle of the park since his appointment.
However, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have been the manager’s duo of choice of late, with the pair starting each of the Red Devils’ five Premier League matches in a row.
The club have remained unbeaten during such a period, showcasing that the boss has made the right decision in opting for the pair instead of selecting the likes of Kobbie Mainoo.
However, with Casemiro now 33, he’s likely coming to the back end of his career at the top level, with the hierarchy already laying the foundations for a move for one player in the January window.
Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder in January
Over the last couple of days, it’s been reported that United are targeting a move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson in the upcoming January transfer window.
It’s been claimed that the Red Devils have already made an approach to Sean Dyche’s side to register their interest in landing the 23-year-old England international in the coming months.
However, any deal would be a club record, with the Reds currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m to part ways with their star man during the upcoming market.
He’s not the only midfielder in their sights at present, as Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba has once again appeared on their radar, if recent reports are to be believed.
According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim and INEOS have made the Cameroonian international their “dream” target for January, but like Anderson, he would set them back a small fortune.
They also state that a £100m deal would be needed to prise him away from the AMEX, but that the player himself would be open to a switch to move to Old Trafford in the near future.
Why United’s £100m target would end Ugarte’s career
It wouldn’t be the first time United have splashed the cash on a new central midfielder, especially after spending a reported £50m for the signature of Manuel Ugarte back in 2024.
The Uruguayan’s transfer generated huge excitement within the Red Devils fanbase, with his arrival finally handing the side the disruptive presence needed to regain possession.
However, a little over 12 months on from his switch to England’s top-flight, he’s since dropped down the pecking order, as seen by his tally of just two league starts in 2025/26.
Amorim has undoubtedly lost faith in the 24-year-old at present, with a new addition only pushing the former PSG star further down the list – which could tempt the hierarchy to cash in on his services.
Spending £100m on a new addition would be a huge statement of intent, but it would no doubt put the future signing ahead of Ugarte in the pecking order due to the fee alone.
Baleba now appears to be the most likely candidate to join the Red Devils in January, with the youngster offering an immediate and long-term upgrade on the Uruguayan.
When comparing their stats from the 2025/26 campaign, the Brighton star has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas – potentially making his £100m price tag an excellent deal.
Games played
11
9
Games started
10
2
Pass accuracy
86%
85%
Log balls completed
54%
50%
Interceptions made
1.4
1.1
Duels won
6.5
5.1
Take-on success
63%
33%
Recoveries made
5.9
5.8
The 21-year-old has completed more of the passes he’s attempted this campaign, whilst completing more of the long passes he’s attempted – highlighting the dominance he has over Ugarte in possession.
He’s also completed more of the dribbles he’s attempted, further showcasing his all-round talents with the ball at his feet in the Premier League this season.
Out of possession, Baleba has won more duels per 90, whilst making more interceptions per 90 – subsequently offering the side a more dominant option out of possession.
£100m would be a huge statement of intent from the United hierarchy, but given his tender age, Baleba would be the perfect immediate and long-term solution to their problems.
As to Ugarte, such a transfer would likely spell the end of his time in Manchester, with the board needing to offload him to avoid losing a huge chunk of their £50m investment.
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