Man Utd Eye Two Dynamic Midfield Targets as Baleba Backup Plan Emerges

Manchester United's quest for a new "athletic" central midfielder has identified two fresh targets, Morten Hjulmand and Adam Wharton, as the summer transfer market approaches its final fortnight.

United had previously expressed interest in Brighton & Hove Albion prospect Carlos Baleba, a 21-year-old who could enhance the team both immediately and for the future.

However, Brighton's substantial valuation, comparable to the fee they secured when Moisés Caicedo moved to Chelsea in 2023, led to any pursuit of the Cameroon midfielder being abandoned.

A central midfielder would still strengthen United, however. Ruben Amorim chose to begin with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in Sunday's loss to Arsenal, substituting the Brazilian with Manuel Ugarte after halftime while keeping Kobbie Mainoo on the substitutes' bench.

The Athletic reports that, should United choose to "shift to an alternative" before the September 1 deadline, Morten Hjulmand and Adam Wharton represent viable targets to consider.

There is reportedly an "admiration" for Hjulmand specifically, Amorim's former Sporting CP skipper. Wharton, on the other hand, "might enter consideration" and has previously been speculatively connected with Real Madrid in recent months.

Wharton shares the same age as Baleba, having experienced a remarkable 18 months since departing boyhood team Blackburn Rovers for Crystal Palace in January 2024. He was included in England's Euro 2024 roster and contributed to Palace's FA Cup triumph last season, after recovering from a groin problem that necessitated surgery.

Hjulmand presents a different profile, being five years senior and perhaps viewed as a late developer. He progressed through Copenhagen's youth system, before departing his homeland Denmark entirely to join lesser-known Austrian club Admira Wacker. The midfielder subsequently moved to Italy, joining Lecce in Serie B at that time, assisting the club's promotion to the premier division. Sporting brought him to Portugal in 2023.

Fellow Denmark international Patrick Dorgu was at Lecce during the same period, while Rasmus Højlund and Chido Obi are the other Danish players in the present United roster.