Manchester United will be without Bruno Fernandes after the influential captain suffered a soft tissue injury in Sunday’s match between the Red Devils and Aston Villa. According to the Telegraph, the Portuguese star was forced to come off the bench and could miss at least a month.
United are suffering from a lack of strength in midfield, with Koby Mainu injured in training and absent for the trip to Villa Park. The England international could end up leaving Old Trafford in January anyway after failing to secure a starting place under manager Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils are in dire need of reinforcements in the middle of the pitch following Fernandes’ setback. And Express Sport looks at four emergency signings that could be made by the 13-time Premier League champions in the new year.
Elliot Anderson
Manchester United have been tracking Nottingham Forest star Elliott Anderson this season, with a number of clubs chasing the midfielder following his stellar performances at the City Ground.
Anderson could start for England at next summer’s World Cup, but it seems likely that he will move on next year anyway. And if United are going to shell out big bucks for the 23-year-old in the summer, they might be better off acting early and luring him to Old Trafford as soon as possible.
Ruben Neves
United are also linked with a move for former Wolves ace Ruben Neves, who currently plays for Al Hilal in the Saudi Professional League.
Neves, 28, has excelled in England before moving to the Middle East in the summer of 2023 and remains a regular starter for Portugal. Amorim could then persuade Al Hilal to allow him to join on loan in January, with a view to making the deal permanent in the summer.
conor gallagher
Another target United are currently looking to trade overseas is former Chelsea star Conor Gallagher. The 25-year-old appears to have fallen out of favor at Atletico Madrid, although he made a big impression when he first arrived in Spain in the summer of 2024.
United could use Gallagher as a physical presence in the heart of midfield, and Atletico would certainly be open to letting him go.
joan gomez
Amorim could also turn to current Wolves midfielder Joao Gomez, who spent the past three years at Molineux after joining England from Flamengo in early 2023.
Gomez has had a miserable season at Wolves, with the team failing to win a game all season and needing a miracle to remain in the Premier League. And the 24-year-old Brazil international will jump at the chance to end his Wolves career and move to Old Trafford as soon as possible with the aim of making the country’s World Cup squad.
