Manchester United are considering a January move for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleva, with a further five midfielders being targeted, according to reports. The Premier League Giants are considering signing two new players in the middle of the pitch in 2026. And United are currently considering whether they can use the winter transfer window to strengthen Ruben Amorim’s squad.
Sky Sports claim that United are exploring all market opportunities to sign players this month, primarily with an eye on the summer. Baleva is one of six midfielders currently in the spotlight with Cameroon currently playing in the African Cup of Nations, along with Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Wolves’ Joao Gomez. The Red Devils also like several young midfielders, including Lille’s Ayyoub Bouadi and Olympiakos’ Christos Mousakitis.
Wharton is not the only Palace player United could make a move for over the next two periods. The team’s recruitment staff are claimed to be monitoring the status of Eagles striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and RB Leipzig winger Yann Diomande. Rennes’ Jeremy Jacquet has also been mentioned as a centre-back they respect.
Despite signing Matheus Cunha, Brian Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko last summer, Mateta has been tipped as an alternative option in midfield. That’s because Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are both set to leave the club permanently this year. Mateta has developed into one of the most complete centre-forwards in the Premier League and will bring plenty of experience.
The Frenchman, who turns 29 in June, has scored 14 and 16 goals as a starting nine for Palace, and has seven goals in 17 Premier League appearances this season. Wharton, on the other hand, has been plagued by injuries at Selhurst Park, but when he is fit he is one of the Premier League’s best passers and has huge potential.
Given his importance to Palace, it seems highly unlikely that a deal between the two players will be finalized in January. Similarly, there is no doubt that Baleva and Anderson will have to wait until the summer to move on. However, United want to sign at least one, possibly two, top-level central midfielders this year and will wait until the end of the season to reconsider their interest if necessary.
United had shown an interest in Antoine Semenyo, but the Bournemouth winger appears destined to join Manchester City. Speaking at Friday’s press conference, Amorim indicated that there are currently no negotiations underway to sign him in the coming days or weeks.
Amorim said: “The transfer market remains the same. We have no talk of changing teams at the moment. There is a process. There are ideas to continue. We are close to qualifying for the Champions League, but we are eight teams away, so let’s focus on the next game.”
Zirksee is one of the players linked with a move away from Old Trafford this month. Injured Koby Mainu, who has struggled for consistent game time under the Portuguese head coach, is also among the players who could be headed for an exit. Amorim added: “No. None of them (asked to leave). I don’t expect them to come to me asking for anything.”
