TBR Football understands that Manchester United have a shortlist of six alternatives should the Carlos Baleba deal fail to materialise.
Jason Wilcox is accelerating his plans for a rebuild at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils close to signing Benjamin Sesko after edging out Newcastle United in the race for the Slovenian forward.
The 22-year-old will be the crown jewel of a new-look attack for Manchester United, spearheading a front line consisting of fellow newcomers Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
TBR Football correspondent Graeme Bailey exclusively revealed, amid reports Manchester United had contacted Brighton to discuss a potential deal, that The Seagulls are demanding over £100 million to sanction a sale this summer.
Brighton & Hove Albion FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC - Premier League
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With that in mind, Bailey has exclusively revealed six potential alternatives Manchester United could pursue should Brighton remain firm in their stance on Baleba.
Morten Hjulmand
The 26-year-old is a player Ruben Amorim knows all too well – Morten Hjulmand played an integral role in helping the United boss win two Liga Portugal titles with Sporting CP.
He has been on the Premier League radar for some time, dating back to his time at Serie A outfit Lecce, when Tottenham were interested in signing Hjulmand.
After missing out on one of his ex-players in Viktor Gyokeres, who completed a move to Arsenal, it seems Amorim is eager to bring in trusted recruits to aid his Old Trafford rebuild.
Sporting CP v SL Benfica - Portuguese Super Cup
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Erik ten Hag adopted a similar approach, with disastrous results; therefore, Amorim should proceed with caution. However, Hjulmand thrived in the Portuguese system and could thrive in Manchester.
Angelo Stiller
Angelo Stiller has come a long way since breaking through the ranks at Bayern Munich and has proven himself to be one of the most dominant midfielders in the Bundesliga.
Stiller was linked with a move to Wolves while he struggled to make a name for himself in the youth setup at the Allianz, but a move to Stuttgart in the summer of 2023 completely transformed his fortunes.
Various reports have linked the 24-year-old with moves to the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool due to impressive performances in the Champions League and, of course, winning the DFB Pokal.
DSC Arminia Bielefeld v VfB Stuttgart - DFB Cup Final 2025
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However, no side has firmed up their interest in the German international, and the lack of continental football for Stuttgart could leave Manchester United in a prime position to complete what could be the steal of the summer.
Javi Guerra
Another player Manchester United have been heavily linked with this summer is Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra.
According to various reports, the 22-year-old is enticed by the idea of playing at Old Trafford this season and could be available for a cut-price £21 million due to Valencia’s financial troubles.
Guerra would be an upgrade on the declining Casemiro, who, despite his impeccable track record in the game, is slowing down at 33 and will undoubtedly have his minutes managed this season.
Borussia Monchengladbach v Valencia CF - Pre-Season Friendly
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And considering the move for Sesko will push United’s expenditure near £200m this summer, there may be no better value-for-money option on the market than Guerra.
Mikel Jauregizar
A name Manchester United fans will remember from last season is Mikel Jauregizar, in particular, from the Europa League semi-final clashes against Athletic Bilbao.
The 21-year-old scored a wonder goal at Old Trafford, albeit in vain, during United’s 4-1 win against Bilbao in the second leg.
A Spanish Under-21 international, Jauregizar played a pivotal role for Valencia last term both domestically and in Europe, establishing himself as one of the brightest young midfield prospects.
Landing Jauregizar would represent a significant coup for Amorim, but a deal may prove difficult considering Bilbao’s historic Basque policy and the return of Champions League football this season.
Lamine Camara
Lamine Camara burst onto the stage after an impressive debut season with AS Monaco, contributing two goals and seven assists across all competitions from defensive midfield.
The 21-year-old helped the Ligue 1 outfit secure Champions League football for the upcoming campaign, all while making nine outings in the competition.
Manchester United may be in need of a young, versatile midfield option amid Tottenham’s interest in Kobbie Mainoo, whose future at Old Trafford is uncertain due to prolonged and unsuccessful contract negotiations.
Ajax v AS Monaco - Pre-Season FriendlyAjax v AS Monaco - Pre-Season Friendly
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Of course, the prospect of Camara plying his trade in the Premier League next term will depend on Monaco’s valuation, but this is certainly one for supporters to keep an eye on.
Lucien Agoume
Until last season, Lucien Agoume had bounced from club to club, unable to establish himself as anything more than a rotation option.
However, the 23-year-old enjoyed a breakout year at Sevilla, helping his side narrowly avoid relegation from the Spanish top flight, despite only featuring 12 times in La Liga the previous year.
The Cameroon international would undoubtedly jump at the chance to leave a stagnant Sevilla side to sport the red of Manchester United.
FC Schalke 04 v FC Sevilla - Pre-Season Friendly
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At this stage, it is unclear whether Agoume is a real possibility given the plethora of options Amorim will have to choose from this summer, but the Red Devils could do much worse than acquire a midfielder of the same mould as Manuel Ugarte.