Ranked: Manchester United's next midfield target options after Romano teases another Red Devils signing

Michael Carrick is building a squad at Manchester United that can compete in the Champions League, with more new signings being teased by Fabrizio Romano.

On Monday, Man United officially announced the capture of Andrey Santos in a deal worth a reported £48million plus £2million in add-ons, only days after they pulled the plug on Ederson's switch to England from Atalanta.

Santos has been described as an "outstanding midfielder with excellent technical qualities" by director of football Jason Wilcox, and he is set to be joined by another Premier League-proven talent.

United are 'set to finalise' a transfer to sign Aston Villa playmaker Youri Tielemans, with the Belgian international holding a £35m release clause in his contract.

Widely regarded as one of the best deep-lying midfielders in the Premier League, Tielemans has been a revelation for Villa since joining on a free transfer from Leicester City in 2023.

The 29-year-old has made 134 appearances across all competitions, while his five goal involvements in the Europa League last term helped end the club's 30-year wait for a major trophy.

Tielemans is set to undergo his medical at Old Trafford in the next 24 hours, with Carrick continuing to overhaul his engine room after Manuel Ugarte's long-term injury and Casemiro's departure.

A double capture for £83m is a positive start to the summer for the Champions League outfit, and according to Fabrizio Romano, the club are 'working on' a third midfield signing.

"Let me say, Man United probably are not done in midfield, so they could still do something else in terms of adding one more midfielder before the end of the window," Romano said on his YouTube channel.

"Man United are assessing options and talking with the board of directors and with the coach Michael Carrick to decide the best options. But Man United are working on another midfielder."

Ranking the best midfield options Man United can sign next

A patient approach to the transfer window is starting to bear fruit for United's hierarchy.

While former targets Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson all moved for combined fees worth an eye-watering £301m, INEOS are pleased to land two midfielders for a fraction of that price, and a third could soon follow.

READ MORE: How Man Utd could line-up next season as summer business starts to take shape

Manu Kone

At the top of their wishlist is Roma star Manu Kone. Currently at the World Cup with France, who are preparing for their semi-final showdown against Spain, the 25-year-old is reportedly available for around £47m.

Kone demonstrates incredible ball-playing qualities and the physicality to transform Carrick's midfield, having ranked in the top 15% of Serie A players last term for recoveries and the top 19% for tackles.

The Frenchman could complement Tielemans and Santos' distribution perfectly with his imposing stature, with Gian Piero Gasperini already hinting that Roma could sell Kone this summer.

Joao Gomes

Joao Gomes is another option Man United are exploring. The Brazilian recently saw his £38.3m move to Atletico Madrid thwarted after talks with super agent Jorge Mendes broke down in the final stages.

Gomes is one of United's long-term targets, and much like Kone, is an exceptional ball-winner. In the 2024/25 campaign, the 25-year-old ranked third for tackles, with only Idrissa Gueye and Daniel Munoz making more.

In a similar vein to Tielemans and Santos, the former Flamengo star is also Premier League-proven, and that could sway INEOS into finally landing one of their key targets.

As it stands, Kone and Gomes are two of the most likely midfield candidates Man United are chasing, although, as proven with the Tielemans deal, another surprise candidate could emerge.

Carlos Baleba

Man United's interest in Carlos Baleba is well-documented.

Ruben Amorim pushed hard to sign the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder during his time at the club, and the 22-year-old even agreed personal terms over a move last summer.

However, Baleba's £100m asking price ended any chance of him switching to the 20-time Premier League champions in 2025, and a similar narrative could play out this time around.

Although TEAMtalk reported last week that Brighton want at least £70m for the Cameroon international, INEOS are unwilling to pay that fee, especially when there are cheaper alternatives.

Therefore, one of the Premier League's best young midfielders could be waiting even longer to secure his preferred switch to Old Trafford, with a transfer for one of Gomes or Kone looking more plausible.