man midfield transfer shortlist including three failed summer targets

Man Utd's six-man midfield transfer shortlist including three failed summer targets

Manchester United will ramp up their efforts to sign a new midfielder with several of their targets from the summer, including Carlos Baleba, very much on their radar

Manchester United will make adding a midfielder a priority the next time they go to market with Carlos Baleba and Conor Gallagher among six players they are considering a move for.

Ruben Amorim spent much of his summer budget on his frontline, which meant there was a lack of funds to land someone in the middle of the park. United's options there have question marks over them with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes deployed as the preferred two so far this term.

But Casemiro's contract is winding down, Fernandes continues to be linked with a lucrative exit and youngster Kobbie Mainoo has not yet proven himself under Amorim amid talk he too could be moved on.

Brighton's Baleba was linked with a £100million move to Old Trafford in the summer, but the transfer never got off the ground. He has seen his form dip this term at the Amex but remains a player on United's shortlist following a stunning debut campaign.

Ex-Chelsea skipper Gallagher was linked with a loan move to Manchester but Atletico Madrid are only interested in a permanent sale. His minutes have declined this season and he's open to a return to England, but the type of deal may prove a major hurdle.

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Two of England's next generation are also on United's radar. Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson have both enjoyed meteoric rises and are set to be part of the Three Lions' World Cup efforts, which will only see their stock rise even further.

Wharton is tied down with Crystal Palace until 2029 and has shown no desire to leave with the Eagles likely to demand a mammoth fee if he ever was sold. It is a similar situation with Anderson and Nottingham Forest, despite their struggles. Newcastle have been linked with a return for Anderson, who also appears focused on his football despite talk of a move to bigger things.

Chelsea's Andrey Santos is an ambitious target for United. The Brazilian was discussed during the early-stage talks that eventually saw Alejandro Garnacho move to Stamford Bridge, reports talkSPORT, but he's continued to flourish at the Blues.

He was at Strasbourg last term and did consider his options in the summer, but always wanted to give Chelsea the chance to prove he had a role to play with them with his minutes firmly on the rise.

A lesser known name being tracked is Angelo Stiller at Stuttgart. United are monitoring the 24-year-old Germany international, who is open to a PRemier League move. Stiller has a release clause of around £35m, but Stuttgart can pay a fee in the region of £1.5m to remove that from his contract.

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