Man Utd Hold Secret Talks to Sign Midfielder From Abroad in Last 24 hours

Manchester United have held secret talks with an unnamed midfielder in the last 24 hours over a potential loan move, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.

The Old Trafford side are believed to be looking to bolster Michael Carrick’s squad with a new arrival in the middle of the park and have begun exploring their options.

The midfielder in question is reportedly playing outside of England and has Premier League experience, although his identity remains unclear.

United have yet to register any major transfer activity in January, having focused on appointing Ruben Amorim’s successor following his sacking last week.

Man Utd Hold Talks with Midfielder

Jacobs, speaking on The Football Terrace, revealed that United are in talks with at least one player over a short-term deal but refused to speculate on whether a potential move could materialise:

"There is one secret midfielder that Manchester United have held talks with in the last 24 hours. They are in talks with at least one midfielder, for a loan on a short-term deal. Whether or not it develops, let's wait and see.

"I'm not yet in a position where I can divulge the name. It's a midfielder who would only be available on loan. It would be until the end of the season, relatively economical and they have Premier League experience, and they are currently playing outside of England."

United are expected to bring in at least one new central midfielder in the coming months amid uncertainty surrounding Casemiro’s future.

The Brazilian veteran’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and a breakthrough over any new agreement has yet to be reached despite United’s willingness to extend his stay at Old Trafford.

While a move for a low-cost midfielder appears to be an option this month, United are unlikely to secure one of their top targets in January, including Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.

United looked at signing Baleba during the summer transfer window but were put off by Brighton’s demands, reportedly standing at around £120m.

Tactical Switch May Fast-Track New Midfielder Plans

Carrick’s appointment at Old Trafford is likely to see Manchester United move away from the 3-4-2-1 system they were heavily reliant on under Amorim.

The former midfielder has most frequently used a 4-2-3-1 formation as a manager, and there is a strong chance he sticks with his preferred system during his early days in charge of the Red Devils.

A switch to that setup would likely see captain Bruno Fernandes return to a more advanced role, leaving United with only three holding options in Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte.

Adding another option in January could be a wise move for the Old Trafford hierarchy, considering neither Mainoo nor Ugarte has convinced so far this season.

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