Manchester United have made two midfield signings already this summer, but they are in the market for a third.
Michael Carrick, handed the manager reins permanently in the summer after he succeeded in guiding the Red Devils to a third-placed finish in the Premier League during his interim spell in charge in the second half of the season, is keen to bolster his squad this summer to try and challenge champions Arsenal and rivals Manchester City for the title.
The club balked at the price tags handed to the likes of Elliot Anderson, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, instead making the move to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for a combined £85million.
But they want another in the middle of the park with the injury to Manuel Ugarte while on World Cup duty with Uruguay, having initially been open to selling the 25-year-old.
United have been linked with a number of other players in the midfield and GIVEMESPORT thought we would run the rule over the options available to Carrick should United pull the trigger on a financial opportunity.
6 Tyler Adams
Tyler Adams
Bournemouth midfielder has garnered a lot of interest from United in the wake of missing out on a number of other higher-profile targets and could be a cheaper option for Carrick.
That may be the best selling point for signing Adams, with a price tag of around £35million. At 27 he is older than the rest of the options, although he does have good awareness on the pitch and ranks highly for interceptions and ball recoveries. He also loves a booking, so in that regard would be a perfect replacement for Casemiro!
Having played for Bournemouth and Leeds before that, can he make the step up to a big-six side?
5 Carlos Baleba
baleba brighton
United already have a verbal agreement in place with the player, having opened talks with the Cameroonian as early as last summer.
They could not get a deal over the line back then, with Brighton & Hove Albion looking for a fee in the region of £100million to sell him last year.
That price may well have come down, because the 22-year-old did not have the best of seasons in the Premier League in 2025/26, but the Seagulls will still demand a figure of at least £80million.
United remain keen, and his ceiling is high, given his young age, but the 2025/26 campaign may well put them off.
4 Alex Scott
Alex Scott
Alex Scott
We have only really seen what Scott can do in one full season, with the 2025/26 campaign being his breakout campaign.
He had almost half seasons with Bournemouth in 2024/25 and 2023/24 due to injuries and was by no means first choice in the midfield under Andoni Iraola until last year, when he shone.
Bournemouth do not want to sell and it may be the case that he stays one more season, shows once again he is the real deal and then makes a move elsewhere next summer.
A figure of £80million is a lot to ask, but then with other clubs interested, United could miss out on him altogether.
3 Manu Kone
Manu Kone Romavia Reuters
Another one that falls into the cheaper category for United, but that may well be a real positive in this instance, with Kone showing what he could do during the World Cup with France.
He is likely to cost around £51million this summer, which is not too much to ask for United, for a player who may well have flown under the radar for supporters until the World Cup came around.
Kone started four of France's eight World Cup matches and is capable of playing in the No.6 or No.8 role.
2 Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga
A new-ish link, with United more heavily linked with Camavinga's club and international teammate this summer.
Real Madrid's No.6 would be quite the signing for United. He is an elite defensive midfielder with incredible work rate.
He is happy to sit in front of the defence and protect them at all costs, leaving others around him to do the attacking work. He may not be a direct replacement for the work Casemiro did all over the park, but United's desire for more than one midfielder proves they are spreading the work around.
1 Aurelien Tchouameni
Aurelien Tchouameni celebrates for FranceSarah Meyssonnier Via Reuters
Probably the standout candidate of the players linked with United that are left on the market.
Tchouameni played at the heart of France's midfield during the World Cup and his ability to get around the pitch is second to none. Keeps Camavinga out of the Real Madrid and France team.
If Real Madrid are willing to sell, he would be the one to go after, but if they were unwilling to splash out on the likes of Anderson and Tonali, what will they do when Los Blancos name their price?
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Expect the police presence at matches next season to be a lot larger.