Man Utd do not have much choice in central midfield ahead of the new season.
The new Premier League season begins this weekend and Manchester United have just four central midfielders available to them. Even then, it is not so straightforward.
Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro are the only senior options available to Ruben Amorim in the heart of the pitch. Fernandes is better in a more advanced role and Mainoo has also played his best football further forward too. Ugarte started pre-season well but ended it poorly and United would have sold Casemiro if they had the choice.
It is easy to see why Amorim wants a new midfield signing before deadline day, but that is not so straightforward. Carlos Baleba is the dream target for the role, but Brighton are adamant he is not for sale, and even then, they would only sanction a transfer that is on their terms.
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Toby Collyer would have been a logical replacement but he has joined West Brom on loan. Sekou Kone has never played a second of competitive football and is currently sidelined after his serious head injury on Wednesday night.
With a reduced fixture calendar due to the lack of European football, it might not be a major issue. Amorim still has two players for either central midfield role, though it only takes one injury or suspension before things get complicated. It also poses the very real prospect of two of those senior stars starting in the Carabao Cup second round against Grimsby Town.
Kone could still get opportunities when he is fully recovered, but United won't take any risks with his rehabilitation and will be extra careful given his young age. It is incredibly unfortunate timing when he could have been one of those set to feature in the Carabao Cup clash later this month.
The ruthless reality of football is that one player's loss is another's gain. United have a couple of talented teenagers who could get their chance instead. Tyler Fletcher had to watch on as twin brother Jack trained with the first-team this week, though he is the better fit to what United need right now.
Jack is an attacking midfielder, but Tyler is a deep-lying central midfield who was arguably the standout performer at academy level last season. His skillset is more scare at senior level and it would not be a surprise if he got his own chance to train with the first-team at some stage this month.
Then there is Jayce Fitzgerald. He might not be as acclaimed as good friend Jack Moorhouse, who has joined League One side Leyton Orient on loan, but he has already trained with the first-team before and was named on the bench during Ruud van Nistelrooy's brief reign as interim head coach.
With United so thin on options in central midfield it might only be a matter of time before either of the 18-year-olds is given the chance to showcase their skills in the senior spotlight. Amorim still hopes to add Baleba to his squad in the final fortnight of the transfer window, but Fletcher and Fitzgerald might selfishly hope they don't.
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