Ruthless Man Utd planning £250m TRIPLE signing, with Bruno Fernandes at risk in midfield rebuild – Sources | OneFootball

Manchester United are poised for a seismic shift in their midfield engine room, with ambitious plans to offload high-wage veterans and inject youthful dynamism over the next two to three transfer windows.

Under the stewardship of new head coach Ruben Amorim and the strategic oversight of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Man Utd are charting a bold path toward a revitalised future at Old Trafford, prioritising long-term sustainability over short-term star power.

The blueprint is clear: prune the squad of aging stars burdened by lucrative contracts, freeing up financial firepower to chase emerging talents who align with Amorim’s high-pressing, fluid tactical blueprint.

Casemiro, the Brazilian enforcer whose £70m arrival in 2022 now feels like a relic at age 33, tops the exit list.

His declining mobility and £350,000 weekly wage have become symbols of United’s wage bill woes. Casemiro is expected to depart when his existing deal expires at season’s end.

Similarly, Marcus Rashford, the prodigal son turned enigma at 28, will be sacrificed despite his homegrown status – his inconsistent form and off-field distractions have eroded his untouchable aura.

Even talismanic captain Bruno Fernandes, now 31 and nursing a recent dip in creativity, faces scrutiny and is on United’s list of players they need to replace in the next two to three years.

While his ideas and leadership remain invaluable, Amorim’s vision demands relentless energy, and Fernandes’ contract – running until 2027 – may not shield him from a potential sale if a lucrative offer arrives.

Man Utd want £250m Premier League trio

Enter the new guard: a trio of promising midfielders earmarked as the vanguard of this overhaul.

Adam Wharton, the 21-year-old Crystal Palace anchor with his composed passing and prowess, embodies the Ratcliffe-backed British talent pipeline. The Eagles are believed to value Wharton at roughly £70m and that figure may well rise if he continues to impress at Selhurst Park.

Carlos Baleba, Brighton’s 21-year-old Cameroonian dynamo, brings tenacity and box-to-box verve, having dazzled in the Premier League’s cutthroat mid-table battles. The Seagulls don’t intend to sell for a penny less than £100m.

Rounding out the trio of ideal targets is Elliot Anderson, Nottingham Forests 23-year-old creative spark, whose silky dribbling and set-piece wizardry could unlock United’s stagnant attack. Man Utd would like to seal a deal for £60m but sources insist £80m would be required to get Forest’s reluctant green light.

This isn’t mere tinkering; it’s a philosophical reset.

Amorim, fresh from Sporting CP triumphs, inherited a squad bloated by past excesses under the Glazer era. Ratcliffe’s INEOS consortium, with its data-driven ethos, has already slashed non-essential spending, signalling a cultural pivot. “We’re building for eras, not seasons,” a club source confided.

The midfield revamp extends beyond recruitment – expect tactical drills emphasising positional rotation and youth integration, with academy gems like Kobbie Mainoo moulded into a player more befitting Amorim’s demands.

Challenges loom: navigating FFP constraints while commanding premium fees for outgoing stars, and ensuring harmony in a dressing room scarred by turbulence.

Yet, if executed deftly, this youth surge could propel United back into Champions League contention by 2027, blending Amorim’s tactical acumen with Ratcliffe’s fiscal prudence.

As Old Trafford braces for change, one truth endures: in football’s relentless cycle, the bold thrive. United’s midfield metamorphosis might just be the spark to reignite the Theatre of Dreams.

In other news, Sir Alex Ferguson heaped special praise on one of Manchester United’s four major signings from the summer, and while two others were hailed too, one was conspicuously ignored.

Fabrizio Romano as well as our own insider, Dean Jones, have both confirmed Carlos Baleba is Man Utd’s true No 1 target in central midfield above all others including Wharton and Anderson.

What’s more, the Brighton man’s head has been turned and he’ll now gladly jump ship to Old Trafford if offered the opportunity.

The full details in Man Utd’s potential move for Baleba – including when it could occur and for how much – can be found here.