It’s no secret that this is a pivotal window for Manchester United. After saving them last season, Michael Carrick now needs investment from the club if they are to build sustained competitiveness and the area in which they are most lacking is the midfield.
With Casemiro set to join Inter Miami and Manuel Ugarte now sidelined for the long term due to injury, United are in dire need of a midfield rebuild. Why then Have they been so passive in the market?
Now some might say there is still time left to do business in this window but the time isn’t the issue, the options are. With names like Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes having already been scooped for big fees, who else can Manchester United sign that can partner Kobbie Mainoo to the same level that Casemiro did? Let’s go through some of the names. 
The most recent links have been with Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, a player who would partner very well with Mainoo. He’s a proper number six so he can do the more defensive work while Mainoo orchestrates and helps in chance creation. The profile is good but how likely is the deal? Real Madrid have just appointed Jose Mourinho, one of the game’s most defensive minded managers. Will he really be willing to let go of the only proper number six at his disposal? Most likely not. According to reports, Tchouameni is earning upwards of €200,000. Would United be willing to match or increase those wages? Again, most likely not…
The next name on our list is Andrey Santos for whom they’ve just agreed a deal with Chelsea for about £50m. At just 22 years of age, there is room to grow but he is not an out and out number six and he’s not ready for United to depend on him week in week out.
What about Ederson? Another Brazilian midfielder they’ve agreed a deal for with Atalanta. Well he’s a box to box, not a six. He would serve as squad depth, but he wouldn’t effectively partner Mainoo because he’s not of the level and he isn’t the required profile.
Other names United have been linked with include Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, a player the Cherries have made very clear is not for sale and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton on whom the Eagles have slapped an asking price of £100m. Price and position of their clubs aside, neither of these players would pair well with Mainoo. Now while both of these players are very talented, Alex Scott is more of a left sided number eight, very similar to Mainoo himself. Wharton on the other hand is more of a deep lying playmaker so he himself needs a proper number six next to him. These are the issues…
Once again while there is time left in the window, there are few options of the right profile and caliber left to choose from.
