Manchester United's Rebuild Plans: Focus on Midfield and Defence
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spent the last two Mondays immersed in Manchester United business. The first trip, to watch a laboured win over Leeds United at Old Trafford, underlined the scale of the rebuild. The second, a quieter day at Carrington after a statement victory at Stamford Bridge, offered something else: options.
Michael Carrick’s side are now within touching distance of the Champions League. That single achievement changes the financial landscape. It opens up a transfer market United have been desperate to attack with clarity rather than panic.
Inside the revamped football structure — chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox and recruitment chief Christopher Vivell — the conversations feeding into Ratcliffe are already detailed. Carrick’s own future still hangs in the air, but United believe the strategy can move without waiting for a final decision in the dugout.
Midfield rebuild at the heart of the plan
The priority is clear: midfield. United expect to bring in two new players in that area, with the exact profiles still being fine-tuned. The new arrivals must dovetail with each other and with Kobbie Mainoo, who is close to signing a new contract that will cement him as the central pillar of the project.
The club also want to promote from within. Tyler Fletcher and Jim Thwaites have been involved around the first team and there is a belief one academy midfielder can step up to support the incoming signings.
Carlos Baleba remains a live option. United broadly agreed personal terms with his camp last summer before Brighton & Hove Albion’s valuation shut the door. Since then, his season has stuttered. He has been substituted in 15 Premier League games, four of those at half-time, and completed 90 minutes only three times.
Yet one of those full outings came in Brighton’s 3-0 win over Chelsea on Tuesday, where he impressed, notably robbing Robert Sanchez in the box to set up Jack Hinshelwood for a major chance. United scouts have tracked him closely, not just in the league but at AFCON, where they watched Cameroon primarily with Baleba and Bryan Mbeumo in mind. Over five games, his energy, ball-winning and passing data all scored well with United analysts.
There is a sense that United’s pursuit last summer unsettled him and, combined with minor injuries, dragged down his club form. Confidence returned with Cameroon, and Brighton staff have helped him through that difficult spell.
Even so, he sits in a lower price bracket on United’s list. Twelve months ago, with his stock high after two standout seasons, United were prepared to go to £75m. Brighton wanted more than £100m. Now, United are thought to see a fee around £50m as realistic. Whether that tempts Tony Bloom, a notoriously hard negotiator, is another matter.
Elliot Anderson, though, tops United’s midfield shortlist. His relentless style and ability to influence games in both directions have caught the eye, but Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is believed to want up to £125m. He has already shown his resolve by standing firm on Morgan Gibbs-White last summer despite Spurs attempting to trigger an exit clause. Relegation for Forest would change the equation and logic suggests Anderson’s price would have to soften.
Manchester City are seen as Anderson’s preferred destination if he moves. Rodri’s situation complicates that. There are doubts City can both tie Rodri to a lucrative new deal and commit more than £100m to Anderson. Real Madrid have been mentioned as a possible future home for Rodri, and City are keeping other midfield options open.
One of those names, Aurelien Tchouameni, is being discussed in United meetings. The 26-year-old has been one of the few consistent performers at Real Madrid this season. There is no clarity yet on whether Real would even entertain a sale, or whether Tchouameni himself wants a change. A contract extension in Madrid remains a genuine possibility.
Adam Wharton is another midfielder admired at Old Trafford. At 22, his progressive passing and composure have stood out across 47 games for club and country this season. His performances deep into the run-in have only strengthened his reputation. The problem, again, is cost. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish is a tough negotiator and may demand a fee that United simply cannot stretch to.
A move for Sandro Tonali is expected to be beyond United’s reach when all factors are considered. Scouts have also monitored Matheus Fernandes at West Ham United, Alex Scott at Bournemouth and Joao Gomes at Wolves as part of a broader sweep of midfield options.
The plan is still to sign two midfielders, but replicating last summer’s trio of high-fee arrivals — multiple deals in the £70m-plus range — looks unlikely. The squad needs strengthening across too many positions to pour that level of money into just one department again.
Centre-back search and Van de Ven intrigue
United’s gaze is not fixed solely on midfield. The centre-back department is under review, particularly with Champions League football likely to add strain to an already fragile group.
Inside the club, there is genuine belief that Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro can grow into a partnership of the calibre of Arsenal’s Gabriel and William Saliba. That is the long-term vision. The short-term reality is different. Recruitment staff want another defender to share the load.
Ideally, they want a powerful, left-footed centre-back. Heaven is edging towards that role, but doubts linger over Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez after seasons disrupted by injury. Harry Maguire, now 33, is in excellent form, yet cannot be asked to shoulder a relentless schedule with European fixtures back on the calendar.
Micky Van de Ven has emerged as a serious candidate. The 25-year-old, who spoke candidly to Gary Neville in December about his career path, is expected to draw interest regardless of which division Tottenham Hotspur are in next season. His contract runs until 2029, giving Spurs strong protection on his value, but relegation would inevitably make exits for some of their top players easier to negotiate.
Van de Ven’s campaign has been turbulent defensively, but his attacking contribution — seven goals in 40 appearances — has not gone unnoticed. United fans remember his surging run and assist for Brennan Johnson at Old Trafford in 2024. His pace, ball-carrying and tackling profile tick several boxes for United’s recruitment team. Liverpool have tracked him before and major European clubs are also circling, so any move would be a battle.
Sales, salaries and the Ugarte decision
For all the ambition, United still need to sell. Manuel Ugarte sits near the top of the outgoing list. Signed from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 for £50.5m, he has never truly settled or stamped his authority on the side. Ratcliffe is understood to be clear: Ugarte should be moved on.
That view hardened watching from the directors’ box against Leeds, where Ugarte started in place of the injured Mainoo and failed to convince. United intend to make him available for transfer, using any fee to recycle funds into priority positions.
Casemiro’s situation will also reshape the wage bill. Removing his salary is key. There is a clause that can extend his deal by a year if he starts all remaining matches, which would restore his wage to £350,000 per week with Champions League qualification. But sources say he and the club have an agreement for him to leave instead.
By walking away as a free agent, Casemiro gives up an annual salary of £18.2m but gains leverage in talks with new clubs. An MLS move is on the table, with Inter Miami — in a city he visits regularly — already in discussions.
Champions League revenue, combined with transfer income from departures such as Ugarte and Casemiro, will define the upper limit of United’s spending power this summer.
Four major signings – and maybe more
The current plan is to make four significant additions: two midfielders, a centre-forward with experience, and a left-back. Tyrell Malacia is expected to leave, while Luke Shaw will need more rest across a campaign that brings midweek European fixtures back into focus.
Agents who deal regularly with United suspect the club may need even more surgery, estimating they could end up three players short of the number required for a deep run on multiple fronts.
A left winger is also under consideration. Matheus Cunha has found rhythm operating from that side, and Patrick Dorgu is viewed as someone who could feature there as well, which may reduce the urgency. Still, if the right profile becomes available at the right price, United are prepared to act.
All of this unfolds under Ratcliffe’s watchful eye. Two Mondays in Manchester have already shown him the split personality of this club: a team capable of winning at Stamford Bridge, a squad still miles from complete. The money from the Champions League will help. The decisions on who comes and who goes will define whether this is a refresh — or a full-scale reset.
