Two Ex-Premier League stars ‘ones to watch’ in January as Man United midfield transfer news revealed
Manchester United reportedly have two former Premier League midfielders in their sights ahead of the January transfer window.
Kobbie Mainoo is expected to leave Manchester United in January, with the midfielder hoping to secure consistent football elsewhere.
The 20-year-old has been linked with several Premier League clubs in recent weeks, but could ultimately join Serie A champions Napoli.
Manchester United are expected to replace the midfielder, and could be set for a busy winter transfer window after Bruno Fernandes picked up an injury.
Fernandes is expected to spend a month on the sidelines, after Ruben Amorim confirmed that the Portugal international suffered a soft-tissue injury against Aston Villa.
Manchester United target Former Wolves and Chelsea midfielders
Should Mainoo leave, Manchester United will certainly be in need of a new midfielder, or two.
Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro represent Amorim’s only other defensive options, and neither player has convinced this season.
| Manchester Utd midfielders | Status |
| Manuel Ugarte | Fit |
| Casemiro | Fit |
| Kobbie Mainoo | Injured |
| Bruno Fernandes | Injured |
| Mason Mount | Fit |
With Mason Mount representing Manchester United’s only other fit midfielder, arrivals will be desperately needed.
“If Manchester United choose to add a midfielder in January, [Ruben] Neves and also Conor Gallagher could be two to watch,” journalist Ben Jacobs told talkSPORT on Tuesday.
“But if they wait, then of course we’re talking Elliott Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, Angelo Stiller, and I think at the end of all of this, whether it’s January or the summer, Manchester United’s priority is clear.
They want two new elite midfielders. One that is a defined number six, and one that is more box-to-box.”
Matheus Cunha has spoken about his appreciation of Neves, with the two now potentially set to link up once more.
Manchester United are expected to face competition for Gallagher, with Crystal Palace hoping to bring the midfielder back to Selhurst Park.
Manchester United need energy in midfield
Mobility is a big problem for Manchester United’s midfield. Both Casemiro and Ugarte appear to struggle with the physicality of the Premier League and Amorim’s team can often be overrun.
But both Neves and Gallagher would also have problems in Manchester United’s current set-up. The former is a superb passer, but is not massively mobile himself.
Whereas Gallagher brings the energy and the movement, but not the passing range.
Decision-makers at Old Trafford may well be inclined to wait until the summer for the upper echelon of midfielders, although a solution will be necessary should Mainoo depart.
Amorim is already facing an uphill battle to take his team towards a top-four finish in the Premier League, and further injuries could prove catastrophic.