MU are spending big on midfield this summer.
In the early hours of June 3rd, BBC reported that MU had accepted a fee of £35 million, not including add-ons, to sign Ederson from Atalanta. According to The Athletic , the Brazilian midfielder is only the first piece in the Red Devils' plan to revamp their midfield.
The source revealed that MU's goal is to bring in up to three quality midfielders in preparation for the 2026/27 season, similar to their strategy of recruiting three strikers in last summer's transfer window. After achieving success with signings like Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo, the Old Trafford club has even more reason to invest heavily in their midfield.
Following Ederson, Mateus Fernandes is the next target for Manchester United. According to Teamtalk , the Portuguese midfielder has expressed his desire to leave West Ham to seek career development opportunities in a more competitive environment.
Fernandes is also reportedly interested in the prospect of playing for Manchester United. Currently, the Red Devils are looking to finalize the deal for £40 million, while West Ham are demanding a fee of up to £80 million.
Fernandes could be Manchester United's next signing. Photo: Reuters .
If these two deals are completed before the 2026 World Cup, MU will have more time for the new signings to integrate during the pre-season. This will also give the new players a chance to build chemistry with Kobbie Mainoo, thereby helping the team to quickly establish a core squad for the new season.
However, Ederson and Fernandes are not the final targets. MU is still looking for a top-class midfielder capable of replacing Casemiro. Names like Carlos Baleba, Sandro Tonali, and Elliot Anderson are all on their watchlist, but the price tag for each of them is no less than £100 million.
If the entire plan is completed, the amount Manchester United will have to spend to upgrade their midfield could exceed £200 million. To balance the budget, the Old Trafford club will likely accelerate the sale of players who are no longer in their plans, including Marcus Rashford, Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, and Andre Onana.
After years of persistent problems in midfield, the summer of 2026 could be a crucial turning point for MU. If their top targets arrive at Old Trafford, the Red Devils will possess a young, energetic midfield capable of competing in both the Premier League and the Champions League.