Manchester United are taking a long-term view to solving the team’s biggest problem today.
The biggest issue for Manchester United entering the 2026 transfer window was to remodel the club’s midfield.
With Casemiro’s contract expired, United were tasked with finding a replacement. The situation is still shaking itself out.
Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans have signed for a combined £85 million, and there could still be one more signing left. A considerably expensive one.
We will only be able to properly assess the rebuilding job once the transfer deadline passes.
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United have neglected midfield for too long
There is a reason that United are in this position in the first place. The club has underinvested in midfield for far too long.
The last time the club signed more than one first team midfielder in one summer was 2022, when Casemiro and Christian Eriksen were signed.
Eriksen was a free transfer, and while the pair made an immediate impact, both were short-term fixes, no longer at the club four years later.
Prior to that, you have to go back to 2015, when Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger came through the door. Neither lasted.
Youri Tielemans is not expected to be a long-term solution in midfield, but Andrey Santos could be. The Brazilian is only 22 and could strike up a future partnership with Kobbie Mainoo.
Beyond the first team additions, United are busy at work in another area of recruitment, effectively working on another timeline for success.
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Youth recruitment planning for future
Manchester United have been aggressively recruiting at academy level this summer, and central midfield has been a particular focus.
United signed Cristian Orozco from Colombian club Fortaleza. He had already made his first team debut and has captained his country at under-17s level.
Now 18, Orozco will link up with United’s under-21 squad with a view to first team progression.
United have have snapped up two of City’s top midfield academy talents, signing David Eze and Karim Cassim. Both players have represented England at youth level.
Even before this, United’s academy was blessed with talent, with England youth international midfielder Brian Nyonyi set to be in action at the Super Cup NI next week.
Jim Thwaites has already been called up to make the first team bench under Michael Carrick, and could be Youri Tielemans’ eventual successor.
Youth development can be unpredictable and there is certainly no guarantee that all of these players make it, but United are taking multiple shots, and hoping one or more can hit the target.
Fixing the midfield problem now is one thing. Ineos are taking action to ensure that when it gets to 2031, there should be a ready-made conveyor belt of talent ready to step in.
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