(4-3-3) Potential Man United line up under Jurgen klopp and new owner Jassim – as Man United boards plan to bring in the German Tactician if Ruben Amorim fails to make Top four before January
Fixing the engine room was thought to be the overwhelming priority for Manchester United entering the summer transfer window, but Ruben Amorim instead focused on bolstering an underperforming attack.
The Red Devils arguably overpaid the odds to bring in the Premier League’s two biggest xG defiers of last season in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, while more of a gamble was taken on the raw talent of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Šeško.
This heavy dedication of funds limited United’s ability to bolster their midfield, but very few would’ve expected the club to not make a single addition to that part of the depth chart before the deadline came and went.
Fortunately, Amorim believes he’s found a short-term solution in the middle of the park, with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro consistently operating in tandem at the start of 2025–26. So far, United’s summer oversight hasn‘t proven costly, but surely the club will target a new midfielder in the January transfer window, especially with Casemiro’s contract expiring next summer.
Here are six potential midfield targets for the Red Devils this winter.
Conor Gallagher
Conor Gallagher
Gallagher would seemingly be an easier deal than most to pull off.
Age: 25
Current club: Atlético Madrid
Conor Gallagher was labelled an ideal Diego Simeone player by some when he made the move to Atlético Madrid in 2024, and the Chelsea academy graduate enjoyed a decent enough debut season in Spain.
Gallagher made 19 La Liga starts and received praise from his demanding manger in April, with Simeone saying that the Englishman “bring a lot to us” amid an impressive run of form.
However, Simeone’s Atléti are always evolving, and we saw playmakers Alex Baena, Giacomo Raspadori and Thiago Almada all join the club in the summer. Competition is thus rife for midfield minutes, and Gallagher has been limited to just four starts in La Liga and the Champions League.
The “room for growth” Simeone alluded to earlier this year perhaps hasn’t been realised by the dogged Englishman just yet, and Gallagher has been linked with a return to England by way of Manchester United. Some of Gallagher’s best work arrived in an advanced midfield position while on loan at Crystal Palace, but his game developed immensely at Chelsea, where he blossomed in a deeper role and became one of the key voices in the dressing room.
Reports suggest that United and Atléti may be interesting in agreeing to a loan deal this winter.
Angelo Stiller
Angelo Stiller
Stiller has previously caught the eye of Liverpool.
Age: 24
Current club: VfB Stuttgart
Clubs from around Europe are tracking Angelo Stiller primarily becuase of his outstanding passing ability.
The German international is not only metronomic but impressively efficient when asked to progress the ball upfield. According to FBRef data, Stiller, when compared to midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, ranks in the 96th percentile with 84.87 passes attempted per 90 minutes and 98th percentile with 9.74 progressive passes per 90.
However, United already have an outstanding distributor in Fernandes stationed in Amorim’s pivot. They require a complementary option, and some may not believe Stiller, while a lovely footballer, is the right man for the Red Devils. There are holes in his game defensively, especially when asked to cover in transition, and physically that render the Stuttgart star a high-risk option.
Amorim will have to consider whether the pros in possession outweigh the drawbacks without the ball.
Éderson
Éderson
The Brazilian is an effective box-to-box operator. / Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
Age: 26
Current club: Atalanta
Éderson’s stock has dipped somewhat over the past 12 months. It was a surprise to see clubs fail to act upon the Brazilian‘s role in Atalanta’s Europa League success in 2024, with La Dea able to retain one of their most important cogs.
He had another fine season in 2024–25 and would be a sensible option for United this winter if they can’t go all-out in buying their central midfielder for the long-term.
Éderson can do a little bit of everything in the middle of the park, and he’s previously been revered for his relentless work rate. He’s not necessarily the holder United may be after, but think of him as an upgrade on Manuel Ugarte. It shouldn’t take too much to prise him away from Bergamo, especially with Atalanta set to move in a different tactical direction after sacking Gian Piero Gasperini disciple Ivan Jurić.
Lucien Agoumé
