In their pursuit of a new midfielder, Manchester United have been quoted £52million for one of their targets as they eye a potential January swoop.
Manchester United’s summer transfer window was spent almost entirely prioritising their struggling attacking department, but once this dilemma had been addressed, there was a lack of movement regarding the rest of the squad.
Ruben Amorim’s side purchased a brand-new front three ahead of the new Premier League season, before then finishing their summer with the addition of Senne Lammens between the sticks.
It was thought for a lot of the summer period that the Reds would address certain other areas of their squad, such as central midfield, although this was seemingly neglected.
Carlos Baleba was identified as their dream target, although a summer transfer wasn’t feasible, which has led the Red Devils to look elsewhere for a potential January swoop.
United told £52m for Gallagher
Both United and Crystal Palace are among the clubs who looked in Conor Gallagher’s direction over the summer period, and both sides are reportedly still interested in the Englishman’s services.
According to Mundo Deportivo, via Sport Witness, Gallagher is a ‘square-edged piece’ while Atletico Madrid’s ‘puzzle is all curved’. Essentially meaning the 25-year-old isn’t the perfect fit.
Their title states that Premier League clubs are lurking around a potential deal for the former Chelsea midfielder, with United and Palace two of the sides interested.
Despite Gallagher’s current situation under Diego Simeone, the report also claims that Atletico see the Englishman as an ‘important player’ and would prefer to keep him. This stance could change if an offer of £52 million were made over the next window.
United’s midfield conundrum
Much of the noise surrounding Old Trafford at the start of this campaign has been regarding United’s midfield talent Kobbie Mainoo, who has so far failed to breach the United starting XI.
Mainoo had been touted as a top prospect for the Reds and was a constant in the starting squad under Erik Ten Hag’s reign, although, since the arrival of Amorim, minutes for the 20-year-old have been limited.
Despite the victory over Chelsea at the weekend, Casemiro was red-carded, causing him to have to serve a one-match suspension which could finally see Mainoo get his first league start of the season.
If this dilemma is not solved by the time the January window comes around, then movement in United’s midfield department may be expected, with an incoming seeming inevitable.
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