Mansion Sports –  Manchester United are preparing to invest in a new midfield partnership next summer as part of a squad overhaul plan under the guidance of Ruben Amorim.

The club have been monitoring several Premier League midfielders, including Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba, and Alex Scott, as they assess long-term changes in the central area of the pitch.

Uncertainty surrounding the futures of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Kobbie Mainoo forms the main background to this plan.

Midfield Overhaul Becomes Manchester United’s Top Priority

There is significant uncertainty surrounding several of Manchester United’s current midfield options, making it unsurprising that the club continue to be linked with efforts to bring in new players.

Bruno Fernandes recently raised doubts about his future in an interview last month, when he stated that the club had attempted to sell him in the summer and hinted at his openness to playing in Portugal or Italy.

The team captain is also currently sidelined with injury after being substituted during the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Uncertainty also surrounds the futures of Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, and Manuel Ugarte. Mainoo submitted a request to be loaned out in August, which was rejected by the club, and he could seek an exit again during the winter transfer window if his playing time does not increase.

The England international was not included in the squad last weekend and is reported to have many suitors should he push for a move.

Casemiro, who will turn 34 in February, is out of contract at the end of the season and is widely expected to leave the club, as he enters the final stages of his career after several seasons at the highest level.

Meanwhile, Manuel Ugarte, who only joined United through a transfer worth 50.75 million pounds last year, has started just four matches this season, all of which ended in defeat.

United’s interest in Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba last summer also raised internal doubts regarding Ugarte’s suitability for the demands of the Premier League, while Amorim appears not to have fully placed his trust in the 24-year-old player.

The Red Devils Aim to Reduce the Wage Bill

Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro remain among the highest-paid players at the club.

The potential permanent departures of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are also expected to free up additional financial space to recruit new players.

All four of the aforementioned players are believed to earn salaries around or close to 300,000 pounds per week.

Over the past seven years, Manchester United have only recruited two specialist central midfielders, namely Casemiro and Ugarte, after previously failing to secure the signing of Declan Rice before his 105 million pound move from West Ham United to Arsenal in 2023.

Any new arrivals are expected not to sit at the top of the club’s wage structure, even if their transfer fees remain potentially significant.

Ruben Amorim’s Primary Targets

Among the players being assessed for next summer, Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson remains under contract until 2029 and has seen his market value rise since establishing himself in the England national team under Thomas Tuchel.

Forest signed Anderson from Newcastle United for a fee of 35 million pounds around 18 months ago, and he has shown rapid adaptation in the Midlands.

Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace is considered a more realistic option. The 21-year-old midfielder is also under contract until 2029 and is considering signing a new deal, although Palace have a track record of selling key players.

Michael Olise moved to Bayern Munich through a release clause last year, while Arsenal signed Eberechi Eze for an initial fee of 60 million pounds in the summer.

Carlos Baleba, who is also 21 years old, remains under contract with Brighton until 2028, but his role has diminished this season.

The Cameroon international has been substituted at half-time on four occasions by Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler.

The coach acknowledged that this was related to the impact of Manchester United’s widely reported interest last summer.

Alex Scott of Bournemouth, aged 22, has become a regular Premier League player this season and received his first call-up to the England national team last month.

United have also been linked with Scott’s teammate Tyler Adams, but the United States international suffered a suspected medial collateral ligament injury earlier this week.

The Next Steps for Manchester United

For now, Manchester United must maximize the options available within the current squad. With Bruno Fernandes sidelined through injury until the New Year, the Red Devils are likely to assess several short-term solutions during the January transfer window.

This step is being taken to keep their chances alive in the race for European qualification, despite failing to capitalize on the opportunity to move into fifth place in the Premier League standings following the result against Aston Villa.