Manchester United may have lost their opening Premier League game of the 2025/26 season, but there are certainly reasons to be positive for Ruben Amorim for the remainder of the campaign.
Matheus Cunha made his debut against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, producing an excellent performance which has given the fanbase a taste of what he can produce after his £62.5m transfer.
The Brazilian featured for the entirety of the contest, completing four dribbles – the most of any player on the pitch – just needing to add the clinical edge to build on his impressive start.
However, despite being one of three big-money additions within the final third, the hierarchy could be set to make further reinforcements across other areas of the squad.
The midfield department looks set to be the next area of improvement, but it appears that one of their targets won’t be making the move to Old Trafford before the September 1st deadline.
United’s pursuit of Carlos Baleba this summer
In an attempt to bolster the options for Amorim in the middle of the park, numerous options have appeared on their radar over the last couple of weeks.
The main target as of late has been Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba, with the Seagulls star appearing at the top of their shortlist in a quest to bolster the ranks.
Talks had previously been held with Fabian Hurzeler’s side over a move to land the 21-year-old midfielder, who made 34 appearances in the Premier League last season.
However, any deal would’ve been an expensive one, with his current employers demanding a fee in the region of £100m to part ways with the Cameroonian international.
His current boss, Hurzeler, stated last week that he was confident the player would remain at the AMEX beyond the summer, forcing the Red Devils to pursue other options this window.
Man Utd targeting move for Baleba alternative
After leaving a deal to sign Baleba, Crystal Palace’s young star Adam Wharton has once again emerged as a potential summer option for United and Amorim.
However, like a deal for the Cameroonian, it would likely cost a fee in the region of £100m, a valuation that may be out of range given their £200m spending spree to date.
The Englishman isn’t the only player currently in their sights, with journalist Fabrizio Romano stating that Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand remains a key target before the end of the window.
He states that interest has previously been registered in the Danish international, who spent two years playing his trade under Amorim in the Liga Portugal.
Romano also claims that the player himself would be keen for a reunion with his former boss, with the Portuguese outfit currently demanding a fee in the region of €50m (£43m) for his services.
Why United’s £43m target would be their own Rodri
Rivals Manchester City have often been the side to dominate the Premier League in recent years, with Rodri often being the player who has helped them in their quest for success.
The Spaniard has cemented himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, as seen by his ability to win the Ballon d’Or for 2024 – beating Vinícius Júnior to the prestigious award.
Whilst the 29-year-old has been missing for nearly a year, many Red Devils supporters would be wishing they had their own version of the world-class operator.
However, if they were to land a player of his quality, it would be an expensive addition, but a deal for Hjulmand could prove to be a bargain – especially if he can live up to Rodri’s level.
He’s been labelled as a similar player to the City star by FBref, managing to outperform him in numerous areas for the 2023/24 campaign – the last full-season he operated in before his ACL injury.
Hjulmand, who’s been labelled “complete” by analyst Ben Mattinson, dominated defensively, ranking in the 84th percentile for percentage of tackles won (58%).
Such a tally was higher than that of Rodri, who could only muster a tally of 10% less than the Dane, highlighting his ball-winning ability – something which the Red Devils desperately lack under Amorim.
Games played
30
34
Goals & assists
5
17
Tackles won
1.6
1.3
% of tackles won
58%
48%
Blocks made
1.2
0.9
Interceptions made
0.9
0.8
Take-ons completed
67%
65%
Recoveries made
7.3
7.2
Fouls drawn
1.3
1
His top-level ability out of possession is further reflected in his higher tallies of blocks and interceptions made per 90 – having the talent to finally end the club’s hunt for a new presence at the heart of the side.
Whilst Baleba may have been many of the supporters’ first choice for the midfield position, it’s vital the club spend the funds available wisely – especially considering the money already splashed in this window.
Hjulmand could provide an excellent alternative for the Red Devils, having bags of time to build on his impressive start to his career, given his tender age of just 24.
If he can continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason as to why he can’t reach the levels Rodri’s achieved in his career, potentially being the club’s answer to the Spaniard in the process.
