Man Utd's dream three-man midfielder transfer shortlist amid Kobbie Mainoo uncertainty

Manchester United have three midfielders on their wishlist, but no deals are in the pipeline as the summer transfer window deadline approaches. United have spent over £200million this summer to improve their front line, but problems persist in midfield.

Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko have all arrived this summer as Ruben Amorim tries to address their meagre attacking returns. United managed just 44 goals in 38 Premier League games last season and therefore prioritised overhauling their attack.

However, their 1-0 defeat by Arsenal and 1-1 draw against Fulham has shown that Amorim still has an issue in central midfield. He has fielded Casemiro alongside captain Bruno Fernandes in both games, but the balance has been lacking.

Kobbie Mainoo has been an unused substitute in both matches and is considering his future ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline. Mason Mount shifted into central midfield at Craven Cottage before Manuel Ugarte took on the holding role from Casemiro.

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Amorim does not see Mainoo as No.6 midfielder and says that the academy graduate is instead an alternative for Fernandes. United could therefore be tempted to cash in on Mainoo, who would be helpful from a profit and sustainability perspective, given he is a homegrown player.

He might need to be sold for a new midfielder to be signed, given that the pursuit of Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens is the current priority. Amorim is keen to add an athletic and dynamic No.6 to his squad and United have three names on their radar.

The Athletic reports that Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Sporting Lisbon’s Morten Hjulmand are all admired at the club. However, United have given up trying to sign Baleba, due to Brighton’s sky-high £120m valuation, while their interest in Wharton and Hjulmund is also not developed at this stage.

Hjulmand is extremely well known to Amorim, who worked with the Sporting captain during his time with the club, winning two Primeira Liga titles and the Taca de Portugal. The 26-year-old is reportedly available for around £50m, two years after signing from Lecce for just £15m.

Wharton has four years left on his contract with Palace, who are unwilling to sell this summer after losing Eberechi Eze to Arsenal and with Marc Guehi potentially heading to Liverpool. The 21-year-old has caught the eye of scouts from rival Premier League sides and United would face competition if they did move for him.

The focus at United before the window is on offloading their unwanted players, with Alejandro Garnacho in talks over a move to Chelsea, Rasmus Hojlund being eyed by Napoli, RB Leipzig and Atalanta. Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia were all put in the ‘bomb squad’ by Amorim earlier this summer but remain contracted players as the clock ticks down.

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