Manchester United ready to break the bank to sign Real Madrid star Federico Valeverde
Manchester United are coming into this season on the back of a disastrous 2024/25 season. The Red Devils finished 15th in the league table, lost the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur and did not qualify for European competitions this season. Meanwhile, the board sacked Erik Ten Hag mid-season and brought Ruben Amorim, hoping for a change.
However, United started the current season in the same bitter way. They had just one win out of the four Premier League games ahead of the home match against Chelsea. The Red Devils defeated the Blues 2-1 to register their second victory in the league, but that does not hide the shame of getting knocked out by Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup. The manager Amorim is still under pressure, and the scrutiny is on United’s current midfield options and performance.
United are exploring several options for strengthening the underperforming midfield, and Spanish news outlet Fichajes has reported that the English club is preparing a whopping €100 million offer to sign Federico Valverde from Real Madrid. The Uruguayan boasts energy in the midfield and can also play in multiple positions on the field. However, it raises the question of whether this bid is sensible for United or not. Reports even reveal that United are looking at a Boasman move for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, which shows the hierarchy’s continuing obsession with marquee midfield names rather than the balance the team actually needs.
A midfield conundrum
Manchester United ready to break the bank to sign Real Madrid star Federico Valeverde.
Federico Valverde in action amid Manchester United transfer links
Casemiro is at the fag end of his career, Manuel Ugarte has not impressed in his stint for United, while Kobbie Mainoo does not get the backing from Ruben Amorim in his structure. In such a scenario, it looks like an expensive gamble rather than a strategic fit that the club is chasing Valerde. The Los Blancos would hardly sanction the sale of such an important player for them, but even if they did, paying such a fee for a player whose best work comes in a box-to-box role does not address United’s real weakness. What the team require is a disciplined defensive midfielder. They need someone capable of shielding the back three and letting the creative talents breathe further up the pitch.
Names like Adam Wharton and Morten Hjulmand make far more sense. Wharton, only 21, already represents England and has shown composure at Crystal Palace. Hjulmand knows Amorim’s system from Sporting CP and could slot in immediately, offering both reliability and tactical familiarity. Investing in either would cost significantly less and would allow Mainoo to grow in an advanced role without being suffocated by unnecessary competition. There are even whispers of a January move for Conor Gallagher, which is another indicator of the club’s constant search for midfield solutions.
Valverde is a magnificent footballer, yet Manchester United’s problems demand clarity rather than another splash. If Amorim wants to rebuild, then discipline, patience, and shrewd choices must guide every decision, not a headline chase.