Manchester United fans have been crying out for the club to bolster their midfield for the upcoming season, but one potential signing seems to be off the table for the Red Devils.
Manchester United’s season is off to an underwhelming start, with the club failing to win either of their first two encounters in the Premier League.
Last season, Ruben Amorim was given the task of obtaining a top-six finish in the league by owner Jim Ratcliffe, after the club failed to qualify for any European football.
The manager has since made some high-profile signings, with attackers such as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško coming in to try and achieve this target.
One area that remains in need of reinforcements is the squad’s midfield, with the ageing Casemiro, among others, struggling to control the pitch.
United holding off making Stiller an offer
One target for the club has been Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, but it has recently emerged that the Seagulls have informed United that the midfielder is not for sale, leading the club to pursue other options.
One such option, and a player on Amorim’s ‘shortlist’ is 24-year-old Angelo Stiller, who has been described as ‘unbelievable’ by pundits during his time at Stuttgart.
According to reports from GiveMeSport, although the German international’s name has been mentioned in internal discussions at Old Trafford, the Red Devils are hesitating and have not opened formal negotiations with Stuttgart.
This is due to the number of signings United have already made, which has decreased their already limited budget; they are unlikely to recruit Stiller unless there is a significant departure in the midfield, such as Kobbie Mainoo or Bruno Fernandes.
Additionally, influential figures behind the scenes are adamant that he does not possess the same profile as Baleba, despite being touted as an alternative recruit in the final days of the summer window.
Will Mainoo leave United?
In light of this news, and with the club in desperate need of another midfielder, fans will be wondering what the future holds for their 20-year-old academy graduate.
He remains the more likely, and certainly more favoured, player to leave when compared to captain Fernandes, who United would surely be reluctant to sell for any fee.
Mainoo has been an unused substitute in United’s first two league games this season, with boss Amorim stating that he has to fight for his place.
“He’s fighting for the position now with Bruno and I change two midfielders,” Amorim said following a 1-1 draw with Fulham on Sunday.
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“I let Mason Mount [play] there because we want to score a goal, and when I changed, I felt the team need to return to one holding midfielder near Bruno.
“So he (Mainoo) just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as [it] should be at Manchester United. [Sometimes] he’s going to play with Bruno, but at the moment he’s fighting in training with Bruno for the position.”
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