Manchester United don’t have grand plans for the January transfer window; however, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is one midfielder being considered as a temporary reinforcement.
Despite having just three senior midfield options right now, Manchester United have looked unlikely to make a signing.
The reason for this is that the club’s ideal options in midfield, like Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson, are not available right now.
However, there are rumblings of United considering temporary options in midfield to see out this season and hopefully ensure qualification for the Champions League or the Europa League, one of whom is AC Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with talkSPORT claiming there have been talks.
But this would be an underwhelming deal that doesn’t improve the team, especially when there are academy options to step up.
Imagine you are Jason Wilcox… what transfer business would you do before deadline day?
Go all out for a midfielder? Make a under the radar swoop? Let us know!
Director of football Jason Wilcox in action during a first-team training session at the Carrington training complex in 2025 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Every United fan knows that a midfield rebuild is needed in 2026, with Kobbie Mainoo requiring a long-term partner, while the squad depth also needs bolstering.
But Chelsea academy graduate Loftus-Cheek is not the way to do it. Especially when there are midfielders like Jacob Devaney currently in the under-21s banging on the door of the senior side.
Jacob Devaney leading Manchester United U21 out of tunnel.
Photo by Poppy Townson – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
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As far as academy players go, Devaney is one of United’s best young midfielders, with top-class consistency for the under-21s.
This season, Devaney has looked dominant against all comers, rounding out his game to the point that he looks so well-rounded. Most impressively was when Devaney shone in midfield vs England U21 for the Republic of Ireland.
The 18-year-old has outgrown playing academy football, meaning Devaney needs a loan; however, there is also the chance he is a better option to add depth than signing Loftus-Cheek on what would be an expensive loan.
United also have Jim Thwaites, who could potentially step up instead of wasting a spot on a player who isn’t good enough and would only sit on the bench anyway.
Which Manchester United academy midfielder are you most excited about?
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Michael Carrick can leave lasting impact on Manchester United
The likelihood of Manchester United academy talents getting opportunities under the new head coach, Michael Carrick, is much greater than before.
So instead of bringing in an underwhelming option for five months, Carrick should instead look to mould the academy options and leave gifts for the next head coach, which could be himself.
Carrick moulded Hayden Hackney at Middlesbrough and could do the same at United with both Devaney and Thwaites.
This would be a better long-term plan for United, having youth play backup. With just 16 games remaining this season, there is no need to stock up on another senior option.
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