There are several orders of business to conduct in Manchester United’s summer transfer market, and at the top of that list is the need to find a central midfield partner for Kobbie Mainoo.
Four-time Champions League winner Casemiro can not be considered a viable long-term partner for the 19-year-old wonderkid.
Add the impending departure of loanee midfielder Sofyan Amrabat to the equation, alongside Christian Eriksen’s uncertain future at Old Trafford – the need for midfield reinforcements becomes ever more pressing.
It will be intriguing to see what sort of midfield profile the club decides to go for as the summer transfer season looms.
As with almost every window, the media frenzy goes into overdrive, linking a host of names to the club, and, rightly or wrongly – it garners headlines.
Here, I look at six midfield names linked with a move to Old Trafford and profile them in order of style and suitability.
Joao Neves – Benfica (The big money option)
19-year-old Portuguese sensation Joao Neves has long been admired by United, with the Benfica starlet appearing 75 times for his current club despite his tender years.
Agile and technically gifted, the youngster is regarded as one of the most promising midfielders in Europe, and he certainly wouldn’t be short of suitors.
Neves would slot in nicely alongside Mainoo in a United midfield that would have the potential to be one of the most skilful in the league.
However, as much as the Red Devils rate Neves, it is unlikely a move will develop given Benfica’s reported €120m release clause on the player.
Given United’s Profit and Sustainability (PSR) concerns, I don’t see this materialising.
Ben Sheaf – Coventry City (The bargain buy)
One surprising name that has emerged as a viable midfield alternative is Coventry City’s defensive midfielder, Ben Sheaf.
As reported exclusively by The Theatre of Red on Tuesday afternoon, United have identified 26-year-old Sheaf as an option to bolster their midfield ranks.
The former Arsenal academy prospect enjoyed an impressive campaign in the Championship for the West Midlands club – excelling in their FA Cup semi-final clash against United back in April.
6ft,1 star Sheaf started as a youth player with West Ham before moving to the youth set-up of London rivals Arsenal in 2014.
He then enjoyed loan spells at Stevenage, Doncaster and Coventry – before making a permanent switch to the Sky Blues in 2021, where he has made 131 appearances overall.
With a rumoured transfer fee in the region of €17-25 million, the ball-winning midfield player could offer a cost-effective possibility for Manchester United this summer.
Youssouf Fofana – AS Monaco (The midfield dynamo)
At 25, the 6ft,1 Fofana is a powerful box-to-box midfield player – who uses his stocky frame and aggressive style in duels around the midfield battleground.
He also excels at progressing the ball forward, with excellent vision and stamina.
Athletic and strong – Fofana has plenty of the defensive qualities needed to complement Mainoo in the midfield.
The Parisian-born player joined Monaco from Strasbourg in January 2020 and demonstrated his suitability to play in a double pivot straight away;
He formed a formidable partnership with future Real Madrid star Aurelian Tchouameni before performing a similarly impressive role alongside teammate Mohamed Camara for the past two seasons.
With just a year left on his current deal, the French midfield pitbull could be available for as little as £30 million this summer.
I think Fofana represents one of the best candidates available this summer.
Joao Gomes – Wolves (Premier League Proven)
Tough-tackling midfielder Joao Gomes has proven a splendid purchase for Wolves since his move in January 2023.
Gomes has developed well during his time in England, with his bustle style seemingly well-suited to the Premier League.
Capped twice by Brazil, the Rio de Janeiro-born player excels with his tackling – and his impressive ability to cover ground.
Gomes has spoken of his desire to sample European football – which he would get to do should he move to United – who secured a Europa League place after their FA Cup final victory over Manchester City last month.
Rumours of a fee of around £40m could tempt Gary O’Neil’s side into doing business.
Morten Hjulmand – Sporting Lisbon (A Great Dane?)
Next on the list is Denmark international Morten Hjulmand.
Hjulmand caught the eye of Primeira Liga giants Sporting, who paid an initial €18m to secure his services only last August.
He made 49 appearances for Rúben Amorim’s side, with four goals and four assists in all competitions.
He is an intelligent defensive midfielder who reads the game well – utilising anticipation, which allows him to snuff out danger.
He offers a calmness on the ball and is a clever tackler – making him a suitable foil for Mainoo in the United engine room.
With Danish icon Christian Eriksen set for a possible move away from Old Trafford, the stage is open for his compatriot to fill the void – and potentially link up with another Denmark star in Rasmus Hojlund.
A transfer would not come cheap, though.
Sporting inserted a €80 million (£69m) release clause into the midfielder’s contract – likely ruling him out of contention for a move.
Amadou Onana – Everton (The Midfield Powerhouse)
Amadou Onana offers the physical presence that United would lack should Casemiro be moved on this summer.
With a long, rangy stride – Onana is deceptively quick and is a strong tackler – with a notable ability to sweep up in front of his defence.
As you would expect, he is also aerially dominant, which makes him an invaluable asset in both boxes.
The 22-year-old would have to improve his overall possession game – if he is to make the step up to a top side – but he is still very young.
An aggressive ball-winner, the powerful Belgian could well be the ideal partner for Mainoo. But any hypothetical transfer would most likely be a tad expensive.
We will watch on with interest as the silly season begins in earnest, and the burning question of who United will bring in to partner Kobbie Mainoo is sure to rage on.
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