Manchester United are reportedly chasing a new signing in midfield for the summer transfer window, and could have a very long list of targets.
With Paul Pogba heading towards the end of his contract, Donny van de Beek’s future looking in doubt after going out on loan, and upgrades needed on both Fred and Nemanja Matic, it’s perhaps not too surprising to see that Man Utd want to cast the net as wide as possible.
According to ESPN, they hope to eventually narrow down their list of midfield transfer targets to around 15, so we thought we’d take a look at the candidates out there who’d be the ideal fit at Old Trafford.
Read on for our pick of 15 top midfielders – in no particular order – who should be fairly realistic targets for the Red Devils this summer…
Declan Rice
A world class young talent shining at West Ham, it seems inevitable that bigger clubs like Man Utd will soon be in for Rice, and he’s mentioned as a target for MUFC in ESPN’s article.
Kalvin Phillips
Another big performer in the Premier League and the England national team, Kalvin Phillips would also be a fine signing for United, with the 26-year-old surely in need of a big move sooner rather than later.
Jude Bellingham
Another outstanding English talent, Jude Bellingham could also be a fine purchase for the Red Devils, having shown what he can do at Borussia Dortmund since moving there from Birmingham City, where he first caught United’s eye, as per the Sun‘s report at the time.
Amadou Haidara
Another fine young player based in the Bundesliga, Amadou Haidara looks well worth considering for MUFC, even if some fans might want the more glamorous option of someone like Rice or Bellingham.
Youri Tielemans
Leicester City’s FA Cup final match-winner last season, Youri Tielemans has been a joy to watch in his time in the Premier League and would surely shine at a big six club like United.
Yves Bissouma
A tough-tackling, energetic defensive midfield player who looks far too good for Brighton, Yves Bissouma would surely also do a job for United, providing far more all-round quality than someone like Fred.
John McGinn
A player admired by Sir Alex Ferguson, according to the Telegraph, John McGinn’s form at Aston Villa surely shows he’s ready to make the step up to somewhere like Old Trafford.
Franck Kessie
A superb player who is heading towards being a free agent this summer, Franck Kessie is surely worth snapping up from AC Milan, though United are sure to face competition from a long list of suitors for this potential bargain signing.
Aurelien Tchouameni
Another top young talent who could be the ideal long-term option for United’s midfield, Aurelien Tchouameni surely won’t be at Monaco for much longer, with The Athletic recently linking him with Chelsea, but United should surely also keep a close eye on him.
Wilfred Ndidi
One of the most underrated midfielders in the Premier League, Wilfred Ndidi is another Leicester City player on this list, and they’d be lucky to keep hold of him as the Nigeria international seems the perfect fit for the Red Devils’ needs.
Ruben Neves
It’s a bit surprising Ruben Neves is still a Wolves player, which perhaps suggests big clubs have found a reason not to be entirely sure about him, but we imagine many United fans would take him.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
A star player for Lazio, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is another name who is often linked with big clubs, but hasn’t yet got a move. If Man Utd can’t land some of the other names on this list, he’d surely be a very decent option.
Fabian Ruiz
Not necessarily an ideal fit for United’s style of play, but Fabian Ruiz has been hugely impressive at Napoli and it’s surely likely that he’d be one of the 15 names MUFC are looking at.
Frenkie de Jong
A top player who hasn’t quite been at his best for Barcelona, could Man Utd be tempted by Frenkie de Jong? Given that another former Ajax star in Van de Beek didn’t quite work out, maybe this is another one the club should stay away from.
Douglas Luiz
Recently linked with United by Don Balon, there was also an intriguing recent claim from the Evening Standard, who reported that an unnamed Premier League club bid for Douglas Luiz in January. The Red Devils could definitely do worse.