According to The Pitch Prospect, Manchester United are not ruling out signing a midfielder in January.
As well as ongoing winter interest in Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, United are planning a midfield overhaul for 2026 and want two experienced midfielders.
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This is the top priority in the market over the next two windows, looking for both a defined No.6 and a box-to-box profile as Ruben Amorim looks for ball winners and pace in the middle of the park.
Several names are on an initial shortlist, while the futures of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo are unclear and there is no guarantee all three will stay beyond this season.
Players such as Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams and Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller have all been discussed, but it is likely that none of the five will be available until next summer at the earliest.
Conor Gallagher and Ruben Neves are two other possible mid-season signings, while Wolves’ Joao Gomes is reportedly being named as a third target, although this has been played down by United sources in recent weeks.
United rejected a loan offer for former Chelsea midfielder Gallagher in the summer.
He is understood to be open to a return to the Premier League but any move would require a softening of Atlético Madrid’s stance after United were informed in the summer that they would only sell the 25-year-old.
The La Liga side value Gallagher at around €40m (£35m) and United are not believed to want to buy the club outright.
The advantage of a winter loan for Gallagher is not only that it strengthens the midfield without a long-term financial commitment, but it also gives the club the freedom to re-evaluate their options in the summer.
Neves has yet to agree on a new contract with Al-Hilal, who arrived from Wolves in the summer of 2023.
Although the Saudi club is still hoping to change its mind, sources close to the player suggest that Neves is interested in returning to Europe as he has long-term ambitions to play in the Champions League.
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The Portugal international isn’t particularly set on joining a club with Champions League football at the moment, but wants a project he believes he can achieve within two seasons.
The 28-year-old’s current contract expires this summer and he is free to sign a pre-contract during this window.
Juventus is another club to have made an initial inquiry, while Newcastle are said to have a historic interest.
Manchester United have spoken internally about Neves but have not yet made a formal statement on the player or Al-Hilal.
The Riyadh-based club still want to keep Neves but would listen to offers over £15m due to his contract situation.
Neves is also prepared to reduce his tax-free wages, which currently stand at around £300,000 a week.
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With Fernandes out for up to a month with a suspected hamstring injury, United will now consider whether to sign another midfielder next month or go big with two names this summer instead.
The consequence of Fernandes’ absence is more opportunities for Kobbie Mainoo over the holidays.
The Pitch Prospect understands Mainoo is interested in joining Napoli on loan to get more game time ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with his inclusion in the squad currently in doubt.
However, United do not want to sell or loan, and that stance is unlikely to change unless a new addition arrives in midfield.
Mainoo is currently sidelined with a minor calf injury, which is seen as unfortunate by all parties as the 20-year-old was due to feature against Aston Villa last weekend.