Manchester United need to reconstruct the midfield. Former star Nicky Butt has a theory on how it should look.
Casemiro’s impending Manchester United exit will create a midfield chasm for Ineos to attempt to fill this summer.
Manuel Ugarte was supposed to be his successor, but the Uruguayan will likely be sold too.
Manchester United are being tipped for a ‘hugely significant and ambitious’ transfer window, leading to speculation over who the club should sign.
Nicky Butt has now given his thoughts on who he would sign if he had the chance to make it happen.
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Nicky Butt lists his dream combination
Nicky Butt says that if he could build Manchester United’s midfield, he would have Declan Rice alongside Scott McTominay.
Speaking to The Good, The Bad & The Football, he said: “I got asked ages ago who would be my dream. I said, if you had Rice and McTominay with Bruno ahead of them, that’s an ultimate midfield.
“Rice sitting there, McTominay box to box and then Bruno floating around. Man United, that’s the kind of target audience they should be looking at.”
Manchester United could have put this midfield together, with McTominay representing the club between 2017 and 2024, before his shock sale to Napoli.
Declan Rice was available from West Ham for an expensive price – with Arsenal eventually paying £100 million for his services.
Manchester United have since spent £100 million on Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte combined, plus £55 million on Mason Mount.
Declan Rice won’t be leaving Arsenal any time soon, although Butt argues that United should not shy away from trying to raid other top sides.
He said: “They are still massive in commercial market, afford to pay big wages, that ‘s what they should be looking at but they don’t think outside the box.”
You have £100m to spend on a midfielder – who are YOU buying, Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton?
Or is there another realistic player you would sign instead? Let us know who!
United considered Rice
Manchester United did consider Declan Rice, and should have made a move for him in 2021 instead of blowing £73 million on a winger, Jadon Sancho.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expressed regret that United did not do the deal. He told the Stick to Football podcast in 2024: “I really, really like him as a player.
“We discussed him a few times and I think we would have done well with him in midfield. I think his legs, covering the pitch.
“Yeah [he was available]. Obviously, he would have cost some money but we could have and should have gone for him.”
Nicky Butt’s dream midfield of Rice, McTominay and Fernandes would have become a reality.
Now the club only have one, and need to find a couple of new faces.
Would you re-sign Scott McTominay for Manchester United?
Where would he fit in? How much is he worth?
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