Manchester United will surely look to add new midfield options to Ruben Amorim’s squad during the summer transfer window.
The summer transfer window isn’t even close to opening, but Manchester United are moving ahead with recruitment plans.
Reports suggest that United are closing in on signing Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Cunha impressed United fans over the weekend as he found the net in Wolves’ 3-0 victory over Leicester City.
The Brazilian is expected to join United in a £62.5million move, marking a significant start to United’s summer business.
United need reinforcements across the pitch and Amorim’s rebuild will surely include midfield additions.
Joao Palhinha transfer stance amid Manchester United links
Casemiro’s United future remains unclear and Christian Eriksen is expected to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer.
United invested in Manuel Ugarte last summer but must look for more midfield quality this summer.
Reports earlier in April suggested that United have been offered Joao Palhinha ahead of the summer window.
United showed an interest in Palhinha last summer, but he ended up joining Bayern Munich from Fulham instead.
Bayern chased Palhinha for a year, but the 29-year-old has started just six Bundesliga games this season.
That lack of football means Palhinha has been offered to United in a potential reunion with his former Sporting boss Amorim.
However, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg claims that Palhinha has ‘no intention’ of leaving Bayern this summer.
Palhinha still wants to break through as a first-team regular at Bayern and is not holding talks with other clubs despite interest from England.
Palhinha would allegedly consider changing that stance if Bayern really want him to go, but it currently sounds like he intends to stay in Bavaria.
Joao Palhinha would break Ineos mould
We would actually quite like to see Palhinha at United.
The Portugal international is an absolute powerhouse in midfield and racked up tackles and interceptions for fun at Fulham.
That kind of defensive presence would be welcomed in United’s engine room, and Palhinha is a big fan of Amorim from their time together at Sporting.
The problem here is that Ineos prefer to sign young players and Palhinha may not fit into their strategy at almost 30.
Signing Palhinha would break the mould for Ineos, and that stance on recruitment may well kibosh any move even if the midfielder does decide to move on.
We would still make Palhinha one to keep an eye on this summer, but maybe only if younger targets can’t be secured.
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