Man United renowation - Amorim's three golden wishes

Manchester United may still be working to finalize the signing of Bryan Mbeumo, but the focus behind the scenes is already shifting toward another key area: central midfield.

As reported by The Independent, United’s next big objective is to bring in a defensive or box-to-box midfielder—provided Mbeumo’s move from Brentford goes through as expected.

Mbeumo saga: Red Devils have bitten and won’t let go

Currently, three standout names are being closely monitored: Morten Hjulmand of Sporting Lisbon, Palmeiras’ Richard Rios, and Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha. Each brings a robust physical presence and strong tactical acumen—traits highly valued by head coach Ruben Amorim, who is eager to reshape United’s midfield with grit and structure.

The situation with Palhinha is especially intriguing. Manchester United showed interest in the Portuguese international last summer, and he remains a target. However, Bayern Munich’s internal situation could complicate things. With Jamal Musiala sidelined due to injury, the German champions may now accelerate their own search for reinforcements—putting Palhinha at the center of an emerging transfer tug-of-war.

Meanwhile, United's transfer strategy remains tied to outgoing sales. With a bloated squad, the club must first offload players like Jadon Sancho and Antony, both of whom are seen as likely departures.

At the same time, Brentford continues to drive a hard bargain for Mbeumo. United has already submitted two bids—the latest totaling around 72 million—but the London side reportedly wants closer to 75 million before agreeing to a deal.

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So far this window, United has secured early signings in Matheus Cunha and rising star Diego Leon, but the heavy lifting in midfield—and possibly attack—is still underway.