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Man Utd in total midfield revamp: The latest on Fernandes, Mainoo and Ugarte
Tom Weber
- 14 Mar 2026 17:06 GMT
- 4 min read
News
Manchester United could be set for a complete midfield rebuild this summer, which may even entail having to replace captain Bruno Fernandes.
Bolstering the engine room is the Red Devils' most pressing priority heading into the next window. It has been well-documented since last summer that the midfield is the biggest area of concern for the club's recruitment chiefs.
At present, it is planned that at least two new midfielders will be signed after this season. However, there could be even more movement if there are more departures than initially expected.
Current ETV
Bruno Fernandes
AM, M, DM (C)
Man Utd
Bruno Fernandes
AM, M, DM (C)
Man Utd
ETV Range
€38.3M - €46.8M
Casemiro has already announced that he will become a free agent this summer. Additionally, Manuel Ugarte is available for transfer, having failed to impress since his arrival in 2024.
Recently, it was claimed that Bruno Fernandes and Man Utd are in agreement that the club captain will stay beyond this season, but ESPN reports that this is not yet set in stone. On the contrary, it is believed that the future of Fernandes could become a "big storyline" this summer.
Man Utd set for total revamp?
The Portugal international turns 32 in September, so it is a distinct possibility that the summer window will be Man Utd's final chance to cash in on their star midfielder. Similarly, it could be Fernandes' last chance to secure a lucrative transfer to Saudi Arabia.
The situation with Kobbie Mainoo is somewhat similar. While Man Utd are generally convinced that he will stay, the fact that he has yet to greenlight an extension to his contract is worrying. His current deal expires in 2027, though there is an option to extend it by a further season.
Italian journalist Luca Marchetti claims that Mainoo remains a priority target for Napoli, despite the Italian club now having failed to sign him in two consecutive transfer windows.
If Fernandes and/or Mainoo depart, the club's midfield will look unrecognisable next season. As for replacements, the usual suspects continue to be linked with a move to Old Trafford.
Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton are Man Utd's top targets. Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are appreciated, but it is expected that Newcastle will dig their heels in.
In fact, the Magpies could also rival Man Utd for Anderson. TEAMtalk claims that Eddie Howe and company may "spring a surprise" and go all out to bring their academy graduate back to the club. Howe has made no secret of the fact that he regrets selling Anderson.
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