Manchester United are a club that appears to be on the upswing under manager Michael Carrick, with the caretaker manager giving fans a reason to be positive after the Ruben Amorim era.
The 44-year-old has been in charge of five Premier League games so far, remaining unbeaten and putting the club firmly in contention for Champions League qualification.
It remains to be seen whether the former player will be handed the job permanently, but given his recent upturn in form, he certainly won’t hurt his chances.
He has gone back to basics with the Red Devils, operating a 4-2-3-1 system that has allowed the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Koby Mainu to play central roles in the team.
However, despite the aforementioned duo’s form in recent games, INEOS executives appear to have identified potential reinforcements ahead of the summer to help the new manager for the 2025/26 season.
Manchester United make £20m star player their biggest target this summer
Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton has emerged as a potential target for United as they look to strengthen their central midfield department in recent months.
The Red Devils have previously held talks with the Eagles over a potential deal with the England international, who has featured in 23 league games this season.
However, any deal could cost the division a significant amount of money in the near future, with Oliver Glasner’s side reportedly putting a £80m price tag on the 22-year-old’s neck.
As a result, other options are currently being considered ahead of the summer window, with Club Brugge star Aleksandar Stankovic also currently being considered.
According to TEAMtalk, the Red Devils have accelerated their interest in the Serbian player for the upcoming season after attracting attention in Belgium in recent months.
The report also states that Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur continue to show interest, and that a major transfer battle could break out between the aforementioned clubs in the summer.
However, it is unclear how much signing the 20-year-old would cost the INEOS regime, as his former team Inter Milan currently have a £20m buy-back clause in place heading into the off-season.
Why Stankovic is better than Wharton & Anderson
United are just one of the clubs linked with a move for Nottingham Forest star Elliott Anderson as they look to strengthen their midfield.
The 23-year-old was one of the bright lights in the division throughout the 2025/26 season, playing every moment of the season despite having flourished under three different managers since then.
Assessing his importance to the Reds, owner Evangelos Marinakis offered an asking price of £100m for the 23-year-old, who has become a regular in England’s squad this season.
Manchester United’s most expensive contract in history
Many of their additions have not lived up to expectations.
However, a cheaper deal could be on the table in the coming months, with Forest potentially heading back into the Championship if they fail to pick up vital points in the coming weeks.
A transfer battle for him could involve multiple Premier League clubs, but signing Stankovic could be the better addition for United.
Mainu returned to the starting eleven as part of the Red Devils’ current midfield pair alongside Fernandes, and has since established himself as a box-to-box option.
His star performances highlighted the need for a deep anchor to sit in front of the backline and dictate play, and the Brugge star did just that in style in 2025/26.
The 20-year-old’s stats for the ongoing campaign highlight his great ball-winning ability and progressive nature, two assets that could make him the perfect player for United.
Described as “exceptional” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Stankovic has collected 1.4 tackles per 90 and recovered the ball 4.5 times per 90 this season.
Figures like these are a testament to his ability to sit deep and win the ball back for his team, and it’s elements like that built into his game that make him the perfect addition to Old Trafford.
Aleksandar Stanković – Statistics for 2025/26 | |
|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | tally |
games played | twenty three |
goals and assists | 5 |
Pass accuracy | 88% |
An opportunity has arisen | 1.2 |
The tackle I made | 1.4 |
Number of balls collected | 4.5 |
Won a ground duel | 4.7 |
aerial success | 62% |
Additionally, his 4.7 duel wins and 62% aerial success rate show that he dominates his opponents in key moments, proving once again his ability to win the ball.
However, Stankovic also made a big impression in possession, completing 88% of his subsequently attempted passes and creating 1.2 chances per 90.
The aforementioned numbers could work perfectly in Mainu’s hands, and the youngster has the foundations to reach the next level alongside the Serbian star.
While big names like Anderson and Wharton will no doubt appeal to fans, a move for the Brugge star could be a cheap and effective solution this summer.
Still only 20 years old, he has plenty of time to develop into a complete deep midfielder, which will significantly strengthen the club’s title credentials in the coming years.
Given the interest from other teams in England’s top flight, the class will need to ensure they act quickly to secure his services and not lose top talent to their divisional rivals.
Carrick could unleash Manchester United’s ‘Foden Regen’ and end Mbeumo experiment
Tuesday’s draw showed why Manchester United’s attacking line needs adjustments under manager Michael Carrick.
