Rúben Amorim may have to reuse a transfer tactic employed by Erik ten Hag if he wants to spend big on a high-quality midfielder this summer.
Last season, Manchester United finished 15th in the Premier League table, and Rúben Amorim’s immediate reaction was that the squad needed more players who could cope with the physical demands of the competition.
The answer was simple – buy players who have already proven themselves as quality assets in the Premier League.
The club have since signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford, respectively, both of whom have shown themselves to be fantastic goal scorers in English football.
United want further additions to their goalkeeping, midfield, and centre-forward departments, although a lack of significant funding has halted progress in the transfer market.
Amorim may have to repeat Ten Hag transfer tactic
United do not have funding as they have yet to sanction any meaningful sales. A significant, yet unspoken issue that has arisen from this is that the club has become less certain about their concrete targets.
After missing out on some key names such as Liam Delap and Viktor Gyökeres, United no longer have a concrete list of names they would like to secure, as they no longer know how much budget they have remaining to secure the three positions.
Recent reports have suggested that United would like to sign Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens as genuine competition to André Onana in goal, and with the Belgian available for under £20 million, this is an easy addition.
However, with little guarantee that they will be able to secure funds for both the striker and midfielder positions and Amorim still desperate for a new centre-forward, it may be worth looking into funding a new striker and signing a midfielder on loan.
Former United boss Erik ten Hag often saw this as a viable solution. When there was a short-term need to fill a position due to either injury or lack of quality, Ten Hag often opted to sign an experienced player, such as Wout Weghost, Marcel Sabitzer, or Sofyan Amrabat, to fill the spot on loan before signing a permennat player the following summer.
United could sign Amorim’s “ideal” profile in 2026
With Premier League experience likely to remain on the agenda for future transfer windows, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba could be a one-to-watch transfer in 2026.
Brighton are reportedly demanding around £70 million for the Cameroon international this summer, and this may rise as far as £100 million next summer, but as has been proven time and time again, spending big on a defensive midfielder can completely change a club.
Read More: Manchester United planning nine summer exits, but “brilliant” star to stay after Rúben Amorim U-turn
Arsenal’s £100 million on Declan Rice has transformed Mikel Arteta’s side into title challengers, while Chelsea’s £115 million move for Caicedo has led to them winning the Club World Cup.
21-year-old Baleba has been touted as United’s “ideal” midfield profile by those who have followed both him and the club.
If United were to use their funds on signing a high-quality striker this summer and bringing in someone on loan for midfield before knocking on Brighton’s door in 2026, this may be the safest route to head down for Amorim.
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