Fabrizio Romano, an expert in transfers, has identified the top two midfield targets for Manchester United this summer, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe aims to support Erik ten Hag in rebuilding the squad.
Manchester United have been notably active in the summer transfer window. They’ve secured forward Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna for £36.5m and signed Leny Yoro from Lille in a deal that could reach £62m, fending off competition from Real Madrid for the promising defender.
Several key players have departed, including Anthony Martial, Raphael Varane, Donny van de Beek, and most recently, Mason Greenwood, who joined Marseille for £26.7m.
United continue negotiations for other targets, having reportedly had a £29.5m bid for Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt turned down. They are particularly focused on bolstering their midfield for Erik ten Hag’s squad ahead of the upcoming season, with transfer expert Romano naming the two players likely to join the Red Devils.
Fabrizio Romano, discussing on his YouTube channel, confirmed that Manchester United have reached out to Monaco regarding midfielder Youssouf Fofana and right-back Vanderson. However, Romano highlighted that the more probable signings for United are PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte and Sofyan Amrabat, who was on loan at United from Fiorentina last season.
Romano stated, “What I’m hearing is that Manchester United are internally discussing the names of Manuel Ugarte and Sofyan Amrabat. Regarding Amrabat, they didn’t exercise the buy option from the loan deal but are exploring different terms with Fiorentina, which remains a possibility.
“As for Ugarte, negotiations are ongoing with Paris Saint-Germain, and they have an agreement in place with the player.”
The news has sparked a mixed reaction among United supporters. Some fans expressed dissatisfaction with the prospect of Sofyan Amrabat returning on a permanent deal, suggesting he is on par with Scott McTominay’s level. One fan on X stated, “It has to be Ugarte, Amrabat is [Scott] McTomimay level,” while another added, “Amrabat should be going back to Fiorentina, he’s done here.”
Conversely, there were fans who showed optimism about the potential double midfield signing. “We’re cooking,” posted one supporter, reflecting positive anticipation. Another fan wrote, “We are so back,” indicating enthusiasm for the club’s transfer activities.
In terms of recent matches, United experienced a mixed bag in pre-season, losing 1-0 to Rosenborg but rebounding with a 2-0 victory over Rangers at Murrayfield. Their next challenge is against Arsenal at SoFi Stadium in California, marking the start of their pre-season tour of the United States in the early hours of Sunday morning.
