Securing number 6: Regardless of Amorim's future, United need a world-class midfielder

It is no secret that Manchester United are crying out for a new holding midfielder who can truly do it all.

The Red Devils need someone who can defend aggressively, press relentlessly, and carry the ball forward with authority.

There are big question marks over the future of Ruben Amorim after his side won only one of their five games this campaign.

Regardless of his future, United need a midfielder who can help connect the scrambled pieces of this team.

Gary Pallister also believes United missed a trick by failing to sign a central midfielder.

Here we look at five options for the Red Devils.

Adam Wharton

Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton is a press-resistant midfielder.

He is a fantastic reader of the game and is tactically sharp.

He averaged 6.92 recoveries and created two chances in Premier League game last campaign.

The worry for United, however, is his duels win rate, which sits at only around 45%.

His current contract at Palace runs until 2029, and next summer will be a perfect chance for United to test their resolve.

Carlos Baleba

United highly appreciate Carlos Baleba and even made a discreet approach in August.

Baleba is one of the finest number sixes in the English top flight currently.

The 21-year-old enjoyed a fantastic 2024-25 season in which he featured 34 times.

He is tenacious and dynamic, exactly the qualities United are crying out for.

His duel success rate is around 57%, and he completed 62% of his dribbles, showing he can carry the ball upfield under pressure.

Brighton wanted a transfer fee of more than £100 million, but the Red Devils will hope to secure a discount next summer.

Elliott Anderson

Since leaving Newcastle for Nottingham Forest, Elliott Anderson has been nothing short of a revelation.

His performances have even caught the eye of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who trusted him to play all 180 minutes during the recent international break.

Now firmly in the picture for the 2026 World Cup, Anderson’s stock is rising fast.

The 22-year-old was a near ever-present for Forest last season, missing just one league game.

Statistically, he is not as creative as Wharton, but his defensive solidity is superior, with a 61% tackle success rate, better than both Wharton and Baleba.

Convincing Forest to sell him next summer could be a tough task, considering he joined them only in 2024.

Manuel Ugarte

Manuel Ugarte may not be the most popular choice, especially given his shaky spell since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

Both Erik ten Hag and now Amorim have shown hesitation in fully backing the 24-year-old.

Ugarte has clear strengths, but lapses in concentration and risky passes in dangerous areas have undermined his impact.

Having said that, Ugarte is a ball winner with more than 2 tackles and 1.5 interceptions on an average last campaign.

The responsibility of the coach is not only to lay out the tactics but also to improve the players at his disposal.

The responsibility now lies with Amorim, or whoever replaces him, to polish Ugarte into the midfield destroyer United desperately need.

Sekou Kone

United have always prided themselves on nurturing breathtaking young talent, and Sekou Kone is another name to watch.

United chose to send Toby Collyer on loan, with the hope that Kone could be used as an emergency option if needed.

The 19-year-old suffered a horrible injury after a clash of heads in an Under-21 match.

He is currently doing individual grass training and may take some time to fully return to the pitch.

Trusting youth is one of the pillars at United.

Amorim would have been encouraged to give Kone a few opportunities but the latest injury may force the teenager to spend another campaign with the youth teams.

Stats from Fotmob.com

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .