Manchester United’s rebuild under Ruben Amorim has entered a defining phase. After years of patchwork fixes, mismatched profiles and false dawns, there is finally a sense of long-term structure beginning to form at Old Trafford. The defensive platform looks sturdier, the attacking patterns clearer, yet one persistent flaw continues to undermine everything else: midfield control. Despite visible progress, United are still too erratic in possession, too reactive out of it, and far too dependent on momentum swings rather than sustained dominance.
With the January transfer window fast approaching, recruitment talk is once again intensifying. Familiar names are resurfacing. Familiar debates are returning. And once again, a central midfielder sits at the heart of it all. One deal is now being described as “close”, but while that story gathers pace, United’s real priority may lie elsewhere, in a player who could reshape the entire direction of the rebuild.
Joao Gomes’ January Move Tipped as “Close”
Joao Gomes
Manchester United are now reportedly “close” to reaching an agreement to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes ahead of the January transfer window. The report suggests talks have advanced rapidly in recent days, with Wolves open to a mid-season exit as United accelerate efforts to reinforce their midfield.
From United’s perspective, the appeal is obvious. Gomes is Premier League-proven, physically relentless and tactically dependable. At 24, he brings immediate intensity, durability and defensive reliability, all qualities Ruben Amorim values in his high-energy system. His rise from Flamengo to Wolves and into the Brazil setup has only strengthened his reputation as one of the most consistent ball-winners in the league.
Trivela’s update has naturally sparked excitement among sections of the fanbase who see Gomes as a “safe” signing, someone who could walk straight into the side and raise the aggression levels instantly. With United still vulnerable in transition and often overrun in midfield battles, the logic behind the move is easy to understand.
But this is also where the deeper concern emerges. United have been here before. Deals that appear “close”, that feel sensible, that promise short-term stability, but ultimately fail to address the root of the tactical problem. Gomes would add energy. He would add bite. But there is a growing sense that he would not fundamentally change how United control football matches.
And with January negotiations often driven by urgency rather than precision, the danger is clear. United risk acting quickly when the rebuild now demands clarity.
United’s True No.1 Target, And Why He Changes Everything
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While Gomes dominates the headlines, United’s internal recruitment thinking is understood to be focused elsewhere, on a younger, more complete midfield profile capable of transforming the tempo and personality of the team. This is not simply another runner or another shield for the back four. This is a controller. A conductor. A midfielder who defines the rhythm rather than reacts to it.
At just 23 years old, Elliot Anderson has developed into one of the most technically secure midfielders in European football, with Thomas Tuchel describing him as an 'elite' player.
Press-resistant, positionally elite and tactically versatile, the Nottingham Forest star offers something United simply do not currently possess, calm authority under pressure. Where Gomes thrives in chaos, Anderson prevents chaos from ever arriving.
United’s biggest issue this season has not been effort. It has been composure. Too many matches have drifted away because the midfield cannot slow the game, reset the tempo or establish long periods of territorial control. Anderson fixes that. He dictates rhythm, manages momentum shifts and keeps United structurally sound regardless of the scoreboard.
In possession, his influence is immediate and obvious. He consistently receives between the lines, turns away from pressure and progresses play vertically, precisely what Amorim’s positional system demands. Out of possession, his intelligence does the defending for him. Interceptions replace recovery tackles. Structure replaces scramble.
This is the type of midfielder who elevates everyone around him. Centre-backs feel safe stepping into midfield. Full-backs attack with freedom. Attackers thrive knowing the supply chain is stable. This is not a supportive signing. This is a transformational one, the type United have lacked since the prime years of Michael Carrick.
According to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs, Anderson won't cost £100m+ despite Nottingham Forest's value, but would set INEOS back north of £50m.
Why United Should Wait Until Summer, And Buy Properly
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim after drawing against Nottingham Forest.
There is also a compelling financial argument for patience. January signings rarely come cheap, rarely come without compromise and rarely come without risk. United’s recent history is littered with winter purchases that solved immediate problems but created long-term imbalance. Acting now for the sake of momentum could repeat that mistake.
United are not one midfielder away from completeness. They are two away from genuine balance. One controller. One dynamic presence. Trying to solve both those problems in January, with limited supply and inflated pricing, risks solving neither properly.
By waiting until summer, United gain leverage: larger budgets, wider markets, fewer desperation fees and a deeper data pool. More importantly, it allows Amorim to evaluate his current options across a full campaign. Recruitment based on evidence rather than urgency is the difference between building a squad and building a dynasty.
If Gomes represents speed, the summer represents strategy.
The Ideal Partner Midfielder to Sign Alongside the No.1 Target
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If United do delay their major midfield business until the summer, the secondary signing becomes just as important as the headline arrival. Alongside a controller, they will still require a physically dominant, progressive ball-carrier, not a pure destroyer, but a true modern No.8.
That means targeting a midfielder who can drive through pressure, commit defenders, arrive into the box late and still recover defensively. Power with intelligence. Energy with control. Someone who complements structure rather than disrupts it.
This second midfielder does not need to headline the window. But he must balance it. The controller sets the tempo. The partner injects vertical force. Together, they create the platform United have chased for a decade.
And that is why the current obsession with Gomes feels misplaced. He would solve part of the problem, but reinforce the cycle. United no longer need short-term stability. They need long-term structure.
One signing patches. The other transforms.
If Manchester United are serious about returning to the summit of English and European football, then their real priority is already clear, even if his name remains hidden, for now.