Manuel Ugarte: Gary Neville predicts midfielder to leave Old Trafford this summer | OneFootball

INEOS are facing a huge summer at Manchester United, with the decision on who will lead the team into the new season expected to accompany a host of changes to the playing staff.

Plenty of incomings and outgoings are expected at Old Trafford, with the hierarchy ready to arm the new permanent manager with the tools for a title charge.

Surgery to the midfield is the priority in the transfer market, as United need both numbers and quality in the middle of the park if they are to compete on all fronts next term.

Two expected to leave

With Casemiro officially announcing his departure at the end of the campaign after an excellent final season in Manchester, United are already aware of the need to replace the Brazilian.

However, Gary Neville has said he also expects Manuel Ugarte, who moved to Manchester from Paris Saint-Germain, to leave the club and INEOS must make sorting out the midfield the “real focus in the summer window”.

Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast after the vital win against Aston Villa on Sunday, the former United skipper discussed the work that needs to be done in the closed season.

“Casemiro is leaving and I think Ugarte will leave so they need two really good central midfield players. Probably one that’s more positional, maybe like a Michael Carrick-type, and one that is more of a destroyer. Basically, they need those two players and that’s the next area of focus,” he said.

Neville commented that the current options will be “nowhere near enough,” especially with United expected to face European competition and additional cup fixtures next season.

The Sky Sports pundit believes United must go into the market and provide the new manager with the relevant level of quality to keep up with the increased demands in the new campaign.

“They’re going to need three or four really good central midfielders. At the moment, they’ve got Mainoo who you can buy into, but you can’t really look at any of the others and think that’s going to work,” he said.

Names galore linked with Old Trafford move

As ever with United, a plethora of names have been linked with making the move to Old Trafford in the summer, and the rumour mill is expected to go into overdrive as the window draws ever closer.

Premier League stars Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton are reportedly top of the wish list, with Brighton’s Carlos Baleba also heavily linked.

Names from the continent are also in the hat, with United tipped to make multiple signings in the middle of the park.

Champions League qualification will naturally make INEOS’s job in the summer a much easier one, with additional funds and the lure of playing at Europe’s top level playing a huge role in who United can attract.

After the fine weekend win against Villa, United are now hot favourites to secure their place in the Champions League next season, but must stay vigilant in getting the job done between now and the end of May.

Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images

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