Manchester United are reportedly set to break the club’s transfer record by signing either Carlos Baleva, Adam Wharton or Elliott Anderson next summer. The Red Devils are set to enter the transfer market once again in a bid to rediscover their glory days.
United have been active in the transfer market in recent years, with the likes of Brian Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesco joining Old Trafford in the summer. And the trio helped the Red Devils regain their form after a poor start to the season, with the Red Devils moving into seventh place in the Premier League table on Sunday after victory at Crystal Palace.
According to talkSPORT, United are planning a major overhaul of their midfield next summer. And they are willing to shell out a club-record transfer fee to acquire their chosen midfield target.
Baleva, 21, has excelled in the Premier League since joining Brighton from Lille in August 2023.
Wharton, also 21, made his name at Crystal Palace after the Eagles signed him from Blackburn in early 2024. And Anderson, 23, has established himself as one of England’s best midfielders since joining Nottingham Forest from Newcastle in the summer of 2024.
United’s current record transfer fee is £89.3m, with the Red Devils spending an eye-watering sum to bring Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford in 2016 after joining Juventus on a free transfer four years ago. And all three of their mid-major targets could surpass that number next year.
The arrival of a new midfielder could also lead to a move for Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguay international only joined the Red Devils last summer but has struggled to secure a starting place under manager Ruben Amorim, starting just two games in the Premier League this season.
Thirteen months after the Portuguese replaced Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout, United will be confident they have finally turned a corner under Amorim.
In Amorim’s first season in charge, the team finished 15th in the Premier League and reached the Europa League final, where they lost to Tottenham.
The 13-time Premier League champions had a nightmare start to the season, losing three of their opening six league games, while they were eliminated in the Carabao Cup in August with a humiliating defeat to League Two side Grimsby.
However, United have lost just one of their last seven league games and will be aiming to break into the top four during a busy festive period.
