Why Manchester United did not sign a midfielder in summer transfer window

Why Manchester United did not sign a midfielder in summer transfer window

Man Utd were busy in the summer transfer window, but they did not add a new midfielder to their ranks.

United did not strengthen their midfield options. (Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)

Manchester United did not consider strengthening their midfield as a priority this summer.

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Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Senne Lammens and Diego Leon were signed in the summer window, but United did not strengthen Ruben Amorim's midfield options.

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United sources have said the midfield was never a priority due to already having options that the club views as strong and versatile.

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Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo are the options in midfield for Amorim. Casemiro and Fernandes have started in all three Premier League games this season.

United enquired about Carlos Baleba's availability and Brighton valued the midfielder at around £100million. However, United spent £215m on signings, making it difficult to finance a marquee midfield arrival.

Toby Collyer was allowed to join West Brom on a season-long loan. Collyer was permanently promoted to the first-team last term, but was given the green light to leave for first team football.

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Mainoo asked to leave on loan in the final week of the summer window. United blocked his request and Amorim insisted in his pre-Burnley press conference that he wanted the youngster to say.

Speaking after the Fulham draw, Amorim revealed Mainoo was battling Fernandes for a starting role.

"He’s fighting for the position now with Bruno," Amorim said of Mainoo. "And I change two midfielders. I let Mason Mount [play] there because we want to score a goal and when I changed I felt the team need to return to one holding midfielder near Bruno.

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"So he (Mainoo) just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as [it] should be at Manchester United. [Sometimes] he’s going to play with Bruno, but at the moment he’s fighting in training with Bruno for the position."

Mainoo started against Grismby in the Carabao Cup defeat and came on at half-time against Burnley due to a Mount injury.

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