Man Utd Eyes Six Dynamic Midfield Stars to Transform January Transfer Window

Strengthening the midfield was considered the top priority for Manchester United heading into the summer transfer market, but Ruben Amorim chose instead to reinforce a struggling offensive line.

The Red Devils potentially overspent to acquire the Premier League's two most significant xG underperformers from last season in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, while taking a bigger risk on RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Šeško's untapped potential.

This substantial financial commitment restricted United's capacity to strengthen their midfield, though few anticipated the club would fail to make any additions to that area of their squad before the transfer deadline passed.

Luckily, Amorim thinks he's discovered a temporary fix in the center of the field, with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro regularly playing together at the beginning of 2025–26. Thus far, United's summer omission hasn't been damaging, but the club will surely pursue a new midfielder during the January window, particularly given Casemiro's deal expires next summer.

Here are six possible midfield options for the Red Devils this winter.

Conor Gallagher

Conor Gallagher was described as a perfect Diego Simeone player by many when he transferred to Atlético Madrid in 2024, and the Chelsea youth product had a reasonably successful first campaign in Spain.

Gallagher earned 19 La Liga starting positions and received commendation from his strict manager in April, with Simeone stating that the Englishman "contributes significantly to us" during an excellent period of performance.

Nevertheless, Simeone's Atléti are constantly changing, and we witnessed creative players Alex Baena, Giacomo Raspadori and Thiago Almada all arrive at the club during the summer. Competition is therefore intense for midfield playing time, and Gallagher has been restricted to only four starts in La Liga and the Champions League.

The "potential for improvement" Simeone mentioned earlier this year perhaps hasn't been achieved by the tenacious Englishman yet, and Gallagher has been connected with a move back to England through Manchester United. Some of Gallagher's finest performances came in an attacking midfield role during his loan at Crystal Palace, but his abilities developed tremendously at Chelsea, where he flourished in a deeper position and became one of the primary leaders in the locker room.

Reports indicate that United and Atléti might be interested in arranging a loan agreement this winter.

Angelo Stiller

Teams across Europe are monitoring Angelo Stiller mainly due to his exceptional distribution skills.

The German international is not only consistent but remarkably effective when tasked with advancing the ball forward. Based on FBRef statistics, Stiller, when measured against midfielders in Europe's top five leagues over the previous year, places in the 96th percentile with 84.87 passes attempted per 90 minutes and 98th percentile with 9.74 progressive passes per 90.

Nevertheless, United already possess an excellent distributor in Fernandes positioned in Amorim's pivot. They need a complementary choice, and some may not think Stiller, despite being a skilled player, is the right fit for the Red Devils. There are weaknesses in his defensive game, particularly when required to cover during transitions, and physical limitations that make the Stuttgart star a risky option.

Amorim will need to weigh whether the advantages in possession outweigh the disadvantages without the ball.

Éderson

Éderson's reputation has declined slightly over the past 12 months. It was unexpected to see teams fail to capitalize on the Brazilian's contribution to Atalanta's Europa League triumph in 2024, with La Dea managing to keep one of their most crucial players.

He delivered another solid campaign in 2024–25 and would be a logical choice for United this winter if they cannot invest fully in purchasing their central midfielder for the future.

Éderson can handle various responsibilities in the middle of the field, and he's previously been praised for his tireless work ethic. He's not necessarily the defensive midfielder United might be seeking, but consider him as an improvement over Manuel Ugarte. It shouldn't require much to secure him from Bergamo, especially with Atalanta expected to shift tactical direction after dismissing Gian Piero Gasperini protégé Ivan Jurić.

Lucien Agoumé

If Man Utd desire an affordable defensive midfielder, they should look no further than Sevilla's Lucien Agoumé.

Inter are usually so shrewd, but they made an error with Agoumé, whom they eventually released in 2024 after several loans. The 23-year-old subsequently began the finest season of his professional career so far in La Liga, attracting attention in prominent circles.

Agoumé is no ball wizard, but he's an excellent athlete who excels defensively. A commanding physique enables him to physically dominate opponents, and he enjoys defending aggressively.

He appears as a potential long-term replacement for Casemiro.

Carlos Baleba

Man Utd made a somewhat halfhearted effort to acquire Carlos Baleba during the summer, and whether they chase the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder in January depends on the Seagulls' valuation.

Prior to the 2025–26 season, Tony Bloom and associates demanded as much as £104 million ($139.4 million) for their exceptional midfielder from the previous campaign. Should Brighton maintain their stance during the winter window, United won't consider a deal.

While Baleba's performance has declined at the beginning of the new season, possibly as a result of United's summer interest, it's understandable why Amorim had been attracted. Baleba covers territory effortlessly and can provide some brilliance once the ball reaches his feet to break down defenses.

Elliot Anderson

Adam Wharton will be unavailable during the season, and honestly, so will Elliot Anderson. Well, unless Man Utd spend a considerable sum and present Nottingham Forest with an offer they cannot decline.

If Wharton was the popular midfielder of 2024–25, Anderson has now assumed that role. The strong yet dynamic box-to-box player is moving toward a starting position for England at next summer's World Cup, having impressed for Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions during the two most recent international periods.

Anderson is an exceptional complete footballer who would significantly impact this United squad. There's an indefinable confidence he possesses, and he's the type capable of guiding his team through difficult periods.

The previous high-profile midfield signing from Forest turned out well for the Red Devils.