Report: Man United eyeing 2026 moves for three midfielders | OneFootball

United’s Wage Revolution Shapes Midfield Rebuild

Savings Drive Fuels Long-Term Planning

Manchester United’s attempt to reshape the spine of their squad is no short-term corrective. It is a fundamental reset. ESPN’s reporting outlines a strategy that leans heavily on financial discipline, a clearer blueprint for squad construction and a more mature approach to recruitment. United are planning to save close to £1 million a week in wages as part of a recalibration designed to bring youth, energy and longevity to the heart of Ruben Amorim’s midfield.

The expiring contracts of Casemiro, Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho, coupled with confidence that Marcus Rashford’s £325,000-a-week salary will be removed should Barcelona or another club complete a permanent deal, have opened the door to a significant shift in budget allocation. ESPN’s sources insist these savings will provide the financial muscle needed to compete for the right profile of midfielder next summer.

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Targets Identified For Summer Window

Interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba has been long-standing. ESPN remind us that United made tentative enquiries in August before Brighton quoted an eye-watering £115 million valuation. Baleba is just one of several names under consideration, with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller also firmly on the radar.

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Yet despite the clear need for midfield additions, ESPN’s reporting highlights that United have no intention of making January a shopping spree. Casemiro turns 34 in February, but even with that looming milestone, the club want to wait until the summer where their preferred targets become both financially and strategically viable.

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United spent £225 million last summer, adding Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and deadline day signing Senne Lammens. The midfield, however, remained untouched. ESPN report that United even turned down Chelsea’s proposal to include Romeo Lavia in the Garnacho deal due to concerns over Lavia’s recurring fitness issues.

Wage Bill Restructuring Offers Renewed Flexibility

United’s financial framework has changed dramatically. The absence of European football has cost the club roughly £40 million, yet the broader efficiency drive under Ineos has produced new stability. The Glazer-imposed 25% wage reduction for seasons without Champions League football has driven the overall wage bill down to its lowest level since 2017-18.

Last season’s figure of £364.7 million has fallen to £313 million for the 2024-25 campaign. Incentive-based contracts and reduced base salaries have also become standard. As ESPN highlight, the departures of Sancho and Rashford, combined with revised deals for Casemiro and Maguire should they accept heavily reduced terms, would take annual savings to over £50 million.

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Sancho’s £300,000-a-week deal expires next summer, ending what ESPN describe as one of United’s most expensive missteps. Rashford, thriving on loan at Barcelona, is expected to depart permanently with the Spanish champions holding a £30 million option.

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Casemiro and Maguire remain in negotiation territory but the club will not stretch beyond sensible offers. Even if both accept lower wages, United are committed to shifting their budget towards younger, long-term contributors.

Recruitment Strategy Moves Into New Era

ESPN’s reporting underlines the philosophical shift underway. The era of signing ageing superstars for extraordinary salaries is fading. United want value, longevity and clarity. Baleba and Wharton could cost a combined £180 million. Stiller is rated around £50 million. Yet with the wages of two major earners freed up and a streamlined financial structure in place, next summer represents a rare moment of alignment between ambition and capacity.

For once, United feel positioned to move decisively rather than reactively. The focus is not on marquee names but structural integrity. This approach marks the beginning of a club prepared to play a longer, more strategic game.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

If you’re a Manchester United supporter, this report lands with a blend of reassurance and anticipation. Fans have endured years of scattergun spending, often watching the club chase high-profile individuals without any coherent sense of fit. The idea that United are now driven by structure, strategy and sustainability feels overdue.

Supporters will look at the projected wage savings and recognise the significance. £1 million a week freed up, with Sancho and Rashford likely departing, represents a turning point. The burden of expensive, ageing signings has been the hallmark of United’s decline. Seeing the club commit to younger, progressive midfielders like Baleba, Wharton or Stiller fits a far more modern profile.

However, fans will also be desperate for action rather than intent. They know too well that opportunities can be lost through hesitation. The midfield has needed reinforcement for several seasons and Casemiro’s age makes the urgency even clearer. Hearing that January will be quiet might frustrate some, but the clarity around a long-term strategy often outweighs the short-term itch for additions.

Amorim’s vision matters. Supporters view him as a manager capable of building a cohesive midfield, something lacking since the days of Carrick and Scholes. Bringing in one or two midfielders who complement his style is crucial to re-establishing control in big matches, especially against rivals who dominate the centre of the pitch.

Expectant fans want this rebuild to be decisive, intelligent and not derailed by inflated valuations. If United can genuinely execute a coherent strategy next summer, adding two midfielders in their early twenties with room to grow, supporters will finally feel the club has turned a corner.