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Manchester United are likely to invest in the squad in the January transfer window after a poor start to the 2025/2026 season. INEOS supported Ruben Amorim this summer, handing him three first-team stars: Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
The Red Devils have also signed Senne Lammens to solve their goalkeeping problem on transfer deadline day, but their efforts in the transfer market have not been matched by the team’s performance on the pitch.
Seven games into the new season, the English giants are tenth in the Premier League with ten points on the board, having scored nine goals and conceded eleven.
While the team has shown promising signs, there is still work to be done, especially in the middle of the park where Amorim has struggled to find the right combination.
United are looking for a central midfielder
The general view is that the midfield is the team’s Achilles heel at the moment. Bruno Fernandes has been one of the key figures under Amorim this season, but he is not a natural talent in this role.
Meanwhile, Casemiro is already on the wrong side of thirty and his contract expires at the end of the season. The Brazilian has been inconsistent of late and the Red Devils were also looking to sign a replacement this summer.
The Premier League giants have Manuel Ugarte on their books, but the Uruguayan has failed to live up to expectations since joining the Theater of Dreams from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2024. Kobbie Mainoo, meanwhile, still has to convince Amorim and has not yet started a Premier League match for the club this season.
The situation has created an imbalance in the middle of the park that Amorim could be tempted to address at the turn of the year.
Recent reports have suggested that United have identified Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as a possible solution to their midfield woes. However, it now looks like they won’t have much luck if they try to sign him in January.
Wharton is unlikely to leave in January
Journalist Dean Jones recently discussed the future of Crystal Palace trio Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton and Daniel Munoz with TEAMtalk. He said: “I don’t expect any of them to leave in January. It would take a very bold offer to lure any of the three away at that stage.”
“It makes more sense for Guehi to wait until the summer and let his free agent move rather than sell him in the winter.
“Wharton is not going to leave mid-season and I don’t think the interest in Munoz is clear enough at this point to take seriously. But of course there is still time to change that.”
“Palace tends to communicate well with players who could leave the club and so if anything opens up I expect a very clear understanding will be outlined.”
United could also choose to weather the storm this season, make do with the options available and go all out for midfield reinforcements at the end of the season. However, much will depend on the form of the team and the performance of the existing midfield between now and the end of the year.
Featured image Matt McNulty via Getty Images
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