Manchester United are still planning to sign another two midfielders, with Mateus Fernandes at the top of the shortlist.
INEOS have already secured an agreement with Atalanta on Ederson’s transfer, but they still need another two midfielders to shore up the department following Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s potential sale.
Elliot Anderson emerged as Man Utd’s top target, but it is widely believed that Manchester United are leading the race for the England international, with Nottingham Forest requesting £120 million.
Man Utd tracking Mateus Fernandes, Carlos Baleba & Alex Scott
With Anderson considered out of reach, Man Utd are monitoring alternative options. According to The Sun journalist Samuel Luckhurst, Jason Wilcox and Co. have narrowed down the search to three main targets.
While none of them will come cheap, they wouldn’t cost nearly as much as Anderson. Therefore, United are confident they can negotiate deals for two of them without exceeding the budget.
At this stage, Mateus Fernandes has been identified as the club’s priority target. The 21-year-old is desperate to leave West Ham following their relegation, but the Hammers have set their price at £80 million.
Percentiles Duel% Poss won Prog carries Fwd passes Fwd pass% Key passes Prog passes Minutes
Carlos Baleba 85.9 87.3 46.1 11.3 9.5 15.0 9.0 1793
Mateus Fernandes 82.4 83.5 58.3 60.4 74.5 55.5 64.6 3302
Alex Scott 66.9 78.2 71.0 34.5 18.8 35.2 29.2 3143
(Stats via DataMB)
Man Utd continue to follow Carlos Baleba, who was their priority target last summer. The 22-year-old Cameroonian is coming off an underwhelming campaign, which should affect Brighton’s asking price. The Seagulls had asked for a transfer fee north of £100 million last summer.
Finally, Alex Scott could be the most cost-efficient option on the three-man shortlist, especially with his Bournemouth contract expiring in June 2028.
On the contrary, Sandro Tonali remains an unlikely option for Man Utd, chiefly because Newcastle United don’t fancy selling one of their most prized assets to their old rivals.
Which two players should Man Utd settle on?
If they must choose between Fernandes, Baleba, and Scott, United should first determine which profile they currently lack in their midfield.
Due to Casemiro’s departure, the Red Devils are lacking a midfield general capable of shielding the backline. Ugarte was supposed to play this role, but his performances over the past two seasons prove that Michael Carrick cannot entrust him with a prominent role.
Ederson might be able to transform himself into a No.6, but his characteristics are more synanymous with the box-to-box role.
Therefore, Baleba stands out as the most natural replacement for Casemiro among the reported shortlist, at least if we rule out a move for Aurelien Tchouameni.
But since Man Utd are eyeing a double swoop, there should be room for Fernandes alongside Baleba, while Scott could be a fallback option should they fail to find an agreement with West Ham.
Michel is a football journalist based in Beirut who has been passionately following Man United for over 20 years. He is a Law graduate and a member of the Beirut Bar Association. In addition to writing for Utd Report, he is also the Head Writer for The Laziali has been a Featured Writer on other websites including Juve FC, and The Cult of Calcio, and Stretty News.
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