A midfielder might be at the top of the list of priorities in the upcoming transfer windows and Manchester United’s Head of Recruitment, Christopher Vivell, may have found the perfect option for Rúben Amorim’s side.
Despite their outstanding performances in recent weeks, Manchester United‘s midfield duo of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro is not a long-term solution. With Casemiro’s contract expiring in the summer and Fernandes’ future uncertain, United will definitely be looking to strengthen their midfield options for the future.
Amorim‘s time at United has been tough so far. One of the main talking points about his system has been the use of Bruno Fernandes in a deeper role. Fernandes has predominantly played as an attacking midfielder in his career but has been deployed as part of a midfield two, usually alongside Casemiro, where he has sometimes been criticised for his performances.
Both Fernandes and Casemiro are over the age of 30, which means they will experience a natural decline at some point in the near future. This means that United must renovate this area of the team.
Other options include Manuel Ugarte, who faces doubts over his quality, and Kobbie Mainoo, who finds himself out of favour with the manager. It remains to be seen whether United will target more than one midfielder in the summer, but a permanent solution in January seems unlikely.
After failing to meet Brighton’s huge asking price for Carlos Baleba last summer, United went into this season having not acquired a new midfielder. The interest in Baleba is still there as of now, and he makes it onto a shortlist of options for next summer. It is believed that Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton are also on the list and are greatly appreciated by the club’s hierarchy.
Vivell likes Stiller for United
Rumours have emerged that United are interested in signing Angelo Stiller from Stuttgart to bolster their midfield. The German has enjoyed a positive start to the Bundesliga season and has continued his fine form from last season. Stuttgart have started strong, they currently sit in third place, and Stiller has been the standout in the team so far.
There was interest from United last summer, as well as from other top clubs in Europe, because of his undeniable quality but Stuttgart were reluctant to sell. Now, it seems he has been added to INEOS’s midfielder shortlist for the upcoming windows, with Head of Recruitment Christopher Vivell a big fan.
Although a transfer in January is not likely, the interest there is real and he could be a good option for United in the summer of 2026. Transfer expert Ben Jacobs detailed United’s interest in Stiller on The United Stand show.
On the show, he said “Vivell particularly really likes Angelo Stiller… a name that Manchester United have been monitoring for quite some time, but they never moved because there was never a realistic possibility of getting him to leave last summer. January is going to be difficult as well, and then obviously next summer a lot will actually depend on whether that release clause still exists or whether the buyout is taken.
“At the moment all indications are that Manchester United are going to be patient with Stiller, continue to watch him and then assess it a little bit later this year or early next year, knowing that firing anything crazy or unexpected, nothing there is going to be possible mid-season.”
Who is Angelo Stiller?
Unlike Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba, Stiller has not played in the Premier League, which makes him less popular and almost a wildcard option for the Reds. Despite this, the German will not be short of suitors and will have a host of clubs battling for his signature.
The 24-year-old began his career as a youth prospect at Bayern Munich but made the switch to Hoffenheim at age 19 where he established himself in the Bundesliga. He signed for Stuttgart in 2023 and has since developed into one of the most exciting midfielders in the league, leading to transfer interest from top clubs around Europe.
Stiller would bring creativity to any midfield but is naturally a more defensive midfielder who likes to make forward passes and dictate play from a deeper position. He is left-footed and 6ft tall, with lots of technical ability and he recently made his debut for the German national team.
United adopted a hybrid strategy last summer, by signing two experienced Premier League stars but also signing two promising talents from the continent. Many English clubs have been shopping in the Bundesliga recently and the potential signing of Stiller could follow a similar profile to the arrival of Benjamin Sesko, who also made his name in Germany.
United’s other targets will carry huge price tags next summer. There have been rumours that the three of Wharton, Anderson and Baleba could each cost close to £100 million. Due to a reported release clause of £53 million, Stiller would be the cheapest option and could be a bargain if United decide to activate it.
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