Man United could pounce on January deal for Champions League winner after club fallout

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Ineos will target a new midfield signing for Manchester United in 2025 and an opportunity to sign a Champions League winner may open up.

Manchester United strengthened their midfield with the £42m signing of Manuel Ugarte on deadline day, and the Uruguayan has hit the ground running with a “perfect” debut performance against Southampton.

However, with Casemiro’s performances continuing to decline and Christian Eriksen likely to move on next summer, more midfield reinforcements will be needed.

United even explored signing another midfielder this summer after selling Scott McTominay to Napoli, but the club are happy to wait until January or next summer to get a deal over the line.

There were as many as six different midfielders that United wanted to sign in the summer, but a new opportunity could emerge in January and it is certainly one worth considering.

Man United on ‘alert’ over Leon Goretzka situation

Bayern Munich star Leon Goretzka was linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer, but the rumours never expanded beyond the German press.

The Sun are now reporting that Manchester United are on “red alert” over Leon Goretzka’s potential availability after he was left “unhappy” with being dropped from their squad.

Bayern boss Vincent Kompany has cast Goretzka out of the first-team squad in favour of summer signing Joao Palhina.

He has played just one minute of football under Kompany and was left out of Bayern’s squad entirely for their latest 6-1 win over Holstein Kiel.

The report adds that United are long-term admirers of Goretzka and could explore a January deal if he pushes to leave the club.

Goretzka’s deal at Bayern expires in 2026 and they could be tempted to cash in on the 29-year-old, but his £273,000-a-week wages could be a stumbling block.

Man United may need an experienced midfield signing

The transfer strategy under Ineos so far has been to recruit young, upcoming stars who can continue to grow and develop at Old Trafford.

That was evident in the summer when Noussair Mazraoui at 26 was the oldest of United’s five major signings.

READ MORE: French press make bizarre Man Utd four-year contract offer claim over World Cup finalist

However, if Casemiro and Eriksen are set to leave, then United may need to add some experience and know-how into their midfield department.

Kobbie Mainoo is still just 19 years old and Ugarte is not much older at 23. There is no doubt that they are the future of United’s midfield but they could do with a veteran alongside to help their progression.

Goretzka has an impressive CV after winning five league titles and the Champions League during his time at Bayern Munich. It would be a risk given his age and the fact that he has fallen out of favour at Bayern, but perhaps it’s a risk worth taking.