Manchester United are on the hunt for new central midfielders - but might struggle to land Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 'dream' signing
Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe talks with CEO Omar Berrada
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made his thoughts on Man United's midfield clear(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made it clear which player he'd love to see pulling the strings in the middle of the park for Manchester United.
Followings the news that Casemiro will be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season, attention will inevitably turn to who might replace the Brazilian.
United have been linked with several high-profile names including Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Brighton's Carlos Baleba, with the club expected to spend big in the summer to bolster their midfield, particularly with Kobbie Mainoo's future also up in the air.
But Ratcliffe won't be able to secure his 'dream' signing since that player has been retired for over a decade. Back in 2024, the INEOS chairman was asked which United legend he'd like to bring back in his prime to play for then-manager Erik ten Hag's team - and he barely hesitated.
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"I think I'd bring Paul Scholes," he said on The Geraint Thomas Cycling Club podcast. "That's the player that they are sort of most missing.
"They've got a couple of players who are not Roy Keane but – Casemiro and [Kobbie] Mainoo – they're sort of quite defensive midfielders, you know? But they don't have a Paul Scholes or an [Andreas] Iniesta."
The Red Devils have invested more than £400million in new signings since Ratcliffe assumed control of football operations in February 2024. The 2024/25 campaign saw a clear emphasis on reinforcing the defence, with Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu all arriving to bolster the back line.
Paul Scholes celebrating
Paul Scholes is Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 'dream' midfielder(Image: Daily Mirror)
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Attention then shifted decisively towards the attack in 2025/26, as the club overhauled its forward options with the additions of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Now, with those areas addressed, focus is inevitably set to turn towards midfield this summer.
Few players on the market can replicate Scholes' blend of technical quality, vision and metronomic passing, but reports suggest United are prepared to go all out in pursuit of one or two elite reinforcements to complete their squad rebuild.
Casemiro has long been a central figure in midfield, making 150 appearances in the three-and-a-half years since his arrival from Real Madrid. While his form has fluctuated, his presence will undoubtedly be missed, particularly with understudy Manuel Ugarte struggling for both form and regular game time.
Casemiro
Casemiro will leave United at the end of the season(Image: Gareth Copley, Getty Images)
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The Uruguayan has started just seven league matches this season, with reports suggesting he could be moved on in the summer unless his fortunes improve under interim head coach Michael Carrick.
A similar situation applies to Mainoo, who fell completely out of favour under Ruben Amorim. However, Carrick has wasted little time in restoring the England international to prominence, handing him starts in consecutive victories over Manchester City and Arsenal - his first league starts of the campaign.
With uncertainty swirling around United's midfield and Ratcliffe's admiration for Scholes well-documented, the club's next move in the market could define the next phase of their rebuild. And if they can find even a fraction of the control, creativity and authority Scholes once provided, it may finally give Old Trafford the heartbeat it has long been craving.