Former Manchester United player Paul Parker has opened up on which midfielder he thinks Manchester United should sign.
Manchester United will be in the market for at least one new midfielder in 2026, but it is currently unclear whether the club will sign one in January or in the summer.
Carlos Baleba was the player Ruben Amorim and United’s recruitment department identified in the summer as the ideal midfield signing, but had to end their pursuit after Brighton and Hove Albion made it clear they had no plans to part ways with the Cameroonian at the time. United did, however, reach an agreement on personal terms with Baleba, and he was very keen on the move.
United have also been credited with serious interest in Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson. At the same time, Adam Wharton has also been regularly linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent months.
While it’s unknown who United’s top priority is in midfield, Ruben Amorim has made it clear that he wants to add an athletic player to his squad in the middle of the park.
Parker claims Gallagher should be United’s priority
In the last few days, reports have emerged that signing the Englishman in January could be a genuine possibility. Speaking to UtdDistrict, former United player Paul Parker has claimed that Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher would be the ideal midfield addition to Amorim’s squad.
“If you’re looking to take it forward slowly and you want to do something, you have to have something in the back end that you look to build on,” Parker exclusively told UtdDistrict.
“You look to build on with that person coming in on loan, or you see you get someone on loan who does well, you get that calibre of player to come in, get it cemented in, then Connor is the one. He’s the one player I think they need.
“One player who plays a lot of football, doesn’t get injured often and willing to play. I’ve watched him many a time when he was at Palace and when he was at Chelsea, and every time you see him grimacing, the lad wants to play games of football.
“If he doesn’t play, it’s a good reason. Even if he’s had a knock, he wants to play football. And I know that if he comes to Manchester United, that would be the cherry on the top.”
Gallagher is not what United need
Gallagher is an extremely underrated player, but he is not what United need. Gallagher does suit the ‘athletic’ midfielder Amorim reportedly wants, but lacks the on-the-ball qualities the club need.
United needs a midfielder who can set the tempo of the game. Gallagher covers a lot of ground and is an incredible high-presser, but his strengths on the ball lie in his arriving late into the opposition box and scoring goals.
He is not the type of player who can sit deep and dictate the game. He is a good progressor of play in the second phase, but isn’t a great progressor in deeper areas.
As mentioned, Gallagher is good at arriving late in the box and scoring. United however, need a No. 6 who can sit deep and allow Bruno Fernandes to push forward. The role of sitting deep would not suit Gallagher’s qualities and would limit him as a player significantly.
He would probably also be best off playing as a no.10 in Amorim’s system, not as a no.6, which is the position United actually need to strengthen.
United are also very well-stocked in the no.10 positions after signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in the summer. A lot of Gallagher’s elite off-ball qualities are also similar to Mason Mount’s. Gallagher, as good as he is, simply is not what Manchester United currently need.
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