Manchester United are set to priortise signing a new midfielder in 2026 and a recent report had revealed they are ready to pounce if Real Madrid decide to sell Federico Valverde.
Man Utd prioritising midfield signings - Romano
The Red Devils take on Bournemouth on Monday with a chance to move into the Premier League's top five, although Ruben Amorim is under no illusions about the test the Cherries will present, calling the visitors a "top team" under Andoni Iraola.
The Portuguese has come under fire from former players and pundits for his team selection despite United's good run of form, namely his decision to continually leave out youngster Kobbie Mainoo, with Paul Scholes saying Amorim does not understand the club.
Kobbie Mainoo
“I think it’s normal,” Amorim said of the criticism before Bourneouth. “I think it’s a fact that me as a manager of Manchester United, I think we are underachieving.
“We should have more points, especially this season, so I take that naturally.
“Sometimes they don’t have all the information and they see Manchester United with the standards that they lived here, always winning, so it’s hard for them to see their club in this situation.
“About Kobbie, I can speak about Kobbie at every press conference. Sometimes it’s harder for me to speak after the game, so it’s always the same situation for me. All of them are the same.”
Mainoo is linked with a move to Chelsea, and his time at Old Trafford looks to be coming to an end after Fabrizio Romano confirmed the club are prioritising new midfielders in the upcoming transfer windows, telling Give Me Sport: "There are at least 3/4 clubs interested, but nothing is close or even advanced now. It's too early to say, and also I’m told United's main focus remains on midfielders."
Man Utd ready to pounce if Real Madrid sell Valverde
According to a report shared by TeamTALK on Monday, "are prepared to offer" a club-record €120m (£105m) for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde.
The Uruguayan's impact has waned under Xabi Alonso, and the player and his camp are said to be open to a move away from the Spanish capital if he is excited by the project on offer.
United for their part are "prepared to negotiate quickly" if Madrid opt to let him go.
federico-valverde-real-madrid-premier-league
The 27 year-old, who can play just about any position on the pitch, is one of Real Madrid's highest earners on roughly £280,000-a-week, and has been dubbed "the most complete player in football" by Carlo Ancelotti.
"Fede is a complete and very important player. He can cover many positions, and he performs perfectly in all of them. It's very difficult to find a right-back like him. For me, it's challenging to decide his best position depending on the game. Sometimes we need him more as a full-back, and in others, as a holding midfielder."
United have also been linked with moves for Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba as INEOS plan to reinforce Amorim's midfield in the new year.
Manchester-United-Elliot-Anderson Related
Man Utd identify two priority targets who could each cost club-record fees
INEOS are planning to stabilise the club while making two big midfield signings in 2026.