Manchester United desperately need to sign at least two new midfielders in the coming 2026 transfer window as Rúben Amorim continues his rebuild.
Manchester United need to recruit new midfielders in the next two 2026 transfer windows as the club continues to invest in Rúben Amorim’s project.
There is significant uncertainty about the futures of Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, and Manuel Ugarte at United amid Amorim’s evolving plans at Old Trafford.
The former wants to head on loan in January in a bid to play regular football and grow as a player, while Casemiro’s contract is due to expire in June, while Ugarte has been linked with a January move to Turkey.
United have been linked with the likes of Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, and other options in the last few months, but plans for their next set of transfers are still being finalised.
United eyeing possible Bouaddi transfer
Another option that is emerging as a target for United to sign in the summer is Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18-year-old has been making waves across Europe with stunning performances in France and has caught the attention of many big clubs.
According to CaughtOffside, United are lining themselves up as one of multiple suitors for either a January or summer transfer, with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal also tracking the young star.
On the continent, Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain are keen to keep him in the country, while Real Madrid have him as a possible option to add to their fantastic midfield depth.
While it’s claimed Chelsea are considering a £40 million bid in January to beat the competition and secure him six months early, Lille are reportedly holding out for around £52.5 million.
He could be a smarter buy than Baleba
United’s final two weeks of the transfer window exploded into action when the club reportedly made it clear they wanted to sign Brighton’s Baleba. However, they felt his value sat at around £60 million.
Read More: Rúben Amorim issues Semenyo January transfer hint amid Man Utd’s strong strategic position
However, Brighton stated they felt the Cameroon international was instead worth north of £100 million, which was far too out of reach for United to sign off on in 2025.
With Amorim’s side reportedly keen on Bouaddi, the Frenchman may be a better buy than Baleba. United need a more experienced midfielder in the middle of the park to slot into the starting XI.
With both Wharton and Anderson possibly cheaper than Baleba in 2026, the club could instead choose to sign Bouaddi alongside one of the two Englishmen for a similar price to what the Beighton man would cost standalone.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.