Ruben Amorim received financial support in the summer, but he was eager to continue signings in 2026.
As reported, Manchester United may introduce a new midfielder as early as 2026, although there may be significant differences in the level of candidates considered.
Ruben Amorim received financial support this summer. Manchester United spent about £216 million ($293.1 million) to sign five first-team players, most of which was spent on building a new front line - Benjamin Sheshko, Brian Mbeumo and Matteus Cunya, while Senne Lamens rejected Aston Villa on the transfer deadline, becoming the new goalkeeper choice.
The 18-year-old Paraguay full-back Diego Leon joined as a wing bench, but the problematic midfielder has not yet received any reinforcement.
Fabrizio Romano revealed that there will be at least one new player in this key position in 2026. United had been closely linked with Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba this summer but was scared away by a sky-high asking price of more than £100 million.
Manchester United tried to sign Carlos Baleba.
The report said that Manchester United's interest in Baleba is still there, but questioned whether the Red Devils will seek to buy the Seagull midfielder again. Only two players in football history have achieved nine-digit transfer fees in the January transfer window — Enzo Fernandez joins Chelsea in 2023, and Philippe Coutinho's transfer to Barcelona in 2018.
Even if Baleba was excluded at the beginning of the year, Manchester United could still turn to a more affordable alternative target. Old Trafford has contacted Amorim's former Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hurmand this summer. The 26-year-old Danish international is contracted to 2028, but the transfer fee is much lower than Baleba's asking price.
However, Sporting Lisbon may be a difficult negotiating opponent, as Arsenal experienced in the Victor Jokelez negotiations.
Manchester United are also considered interested in Crystal Palace's Adam Walton, but Oliver Glasner proved in the Mark Guy incident that he would not let go of his favorite player easily.
