Sports
Which of these 8 midfield targets would fit best at Man United?
Manchester United‘s search for the ideal midfield partner to play alongside Bruno Fernandes is a long-standing issue yet to be properly addressed. With Manuel Ugarte struggling to secure a foothold in the team, Kobbie Mainoo out of favor and the injury-prone Casemiro now 33 years old, the need for another option in the center of Ruben Amorim’s midfield is more pressing than ever.
Fernandes’ recent comments about a future transfer suggest that United may even have two midfield roles to fill soon. As such, they have been linked with a huge number of players in recent months, with sources telling ESPN’s Rob Dawson in November that at least seven midfielders were under consideration. The various profiles of these options vary between pure distributors, connective passers, ball-winners, box-to-box No. 8s, and attack-minded creators.
Here, we assess how each may fit into arguably the most demanding role in United’s 3-4-2-1 setup.
*Market value taken from Transfermarkt.
Adam Wharton
Age: 21
Team: Crystal Palace
Market value: £55 million
Just 18 months from making his debut, Wharton is now undoubtedly one of the Premier League’s most accomplished distributors of the ball. He constantly asks to receive it and is trusted not to lose possession under pressure. Then, once in control, his pass selection is outstanding: he can hit 35-yard switches with precision, incisive line-breaks through pressure, or well-weighted deliveries played into a teammate’s stride.
The quality of Wharton’s left foot is one standout feature, though it’s also his vision and ability to “map” the play around him that is key, as they allow him to move the ball at tempo with ease and fluidity.
Wharton has also shown he is comfortable in a high-intensity style of football. Under Oliver Glasner at Palace, the England midfielder has performed in an energetic, vertical scheme, where demands on speed of thought and defensive reactions are higher. Though he was impressive last season, he has lifted his key-pass output by roughly 10% this year, while still maintaining accuracy and pass variation. Crucially, the distribution isn’t location-specific either and he is as reliable starting attacks from deep as he is contributing in the final third.
While Wharton is more of a strategic and creative force than the all-purpose presence that would be a natural complement to Fernandes, his passing and creative qualities are of such a high standard that he should be one of United’s top options. Conceptually he might be the exact fit for Amorim’s system, his composure and decision-making are of the type that big clubs often build around. Though his contract only expires in 2029, which means a hefty fee of around £100 million may be required.
Elliot Anderson
Age: 23
Team: Nottingham Forest
Market value: £55 million
Since moving from Newcastle United to Nottingham Forest for around £35 million in July 2024, Anderson has been used to great effect as a box-to-box No. 8 or a deeper midfielder in a double pivot. Regardless of the tactical nuances, Andersson can knit play together, dictate the tempo, defend, close down opponents, and construct moves with quality and precision in the final third without slowing down momentum.
He has enough craft to link play and create in the opposing half, while also maintaining enough legs to cover and defend in a frantic game. In possession, he will often take charge of the ball, shift away from pressure and carry it forward — as shown by his 8+ progressive passes per 90 minutes, which come at a respectable 75% completion rate — but he still puts in the effort to regain it when lost (eight defensive duels per 90, four+ interceptions.)
In Amorim’s midfield two, Anderson could press, cover ground and still play the connective pass that links the buildup to the attacking line, all without unbalancing the structure. So, in that regard, he is arguably the best single option for United if the remit is a complete skillset.
Carlos Baleba
Age: 21
Team: Brighton & Hove Albion
Market value: £55 million
A proven Premier League performer, Baleba’s projected ceiling is clearly baked into Brighton’s desire to bring in a fee upward of £100 million for him. Fundamentally a defensive midfielder, the Cameroon international bases his game on excellent tactical awareness rather than pure disruption. He reads developing situations early, screens intelligently, tracks runners diligently, and plugs midfield gaps without losing discipline in his positional play.
Baleba largely profiles as a like-for-like replacement for Casemiro, albeit without the Brazilian’s instinct for late runs onto the attacking box and mid-distance goal threat. On the ball, there is still room for improvement and his average of 35 passes per 90 minutes is modest — but not outrageously low for a ball-winning midfielder — and supports the view that he prioritizes safety over progression and sophisticated construction. That said, his defensive output has sharpened further this season, climbing to close to eight defensive duels per 90, a 15% increase from last season.
One slightly underappreciated aspect of Baleba’s game is his aerial efficiency. Despite measuring just 5-foot-10, he wins 58% of his aerial duels, which suggests he executes them with excellent timing, balance and anticipation. If United’s plan is to sign a stabilizing midfielder with high reach to slot in alongside a more creative partner, Baleba is a valid candidate.
Angelo Stiller
Age: 24
Team: VfB Stuttgart
Market value: £40 million
The left-footed Germany international is one of the German Bundesliga‘s most clear-cut deep-lying playmakers. Stiller sees a lot of the ball — averaging around 67 passes per 90 minutes — though it’s the intent and distribution quality rather than the volume that stands out. He consistently hits an impressive 10-11 progressive passes per 90, at roughly 80% accuracy, setting Stuttgart’s rhythm with measured circulation and well-timed line-breaking passes. He reads pressure early, positions himself extremely well and often performs the release pass when the first phase gets clogged.
However, his passing output does need some context: Stiller thrives alongside a dynamic, ball-winner who sweeps up and allows him to focus on playmaking. While United would gain controlled ball-progression, playmaking and balance with Stiller as a left-sided pivot, there might be issues around his mobility.
He engages in relatively few duels for a deep midfielder (3.8 per 90), suggesting that he does need a robust, all-action partner — which some might say is also missing at Man United — alongside him to handle the more defensive side of things.
Conor Gallagher
Age: 25
Team: Atlético Madrid
Market value: £30 million
If there is only to be one midfield addition, Gallagher feels more “nice to have” than “must-have” for United. Sure, the former Chelsea player brings good experience for a 25-year-old — plus brilliant attacking quality and versatility — but he doesn’t strictly answer Amorim’s immediate needs.
There’s no obvious starting spot for his preferred role as a roaming No. 8 or a No. 10 (even though Amorim plays two of them). Using him as the midfield runner next to Fernandes could work, though it would slightly unbalance the side defensively as well as reducing what he does best in and around the box.
Though Gallagher has only made a handful of LaLiga starts for Atlético Madrid this season, which does indicate a move is on the cards, United is not an obvious destination.
André & João Gomes
Age: Both 24
Team: Wolverhampton Wanderers
Market value: £25 million (André); £35 million (Gomes)
While it may seem odd that two central midfielders in a side rooted to the bottom of the Premier League are being discussed for a transfer to Manchester United, the Brazilian pair do bring some alluring features to the table.
André is predominantly responsible for keeping the team’s structure together and plays close to his center backs; offering early passing options, he is often the first port of call to receive the ball under pressure. His game is about angles, vision, and reliability rather than outright dynamism as he attempts to attract the first pressure from an opponent before moving the ball on. He doesn’t really roam or impose himself physically across large areas as he’s mainly there to stabilize the midfield.
Gomes, on the other hand, provides energy, range and engages in duels at a higher rate (9.7 vs. 6.7 per 90 minutes) and higher up the pitch. He chases second balls, closes down space aggressively and repeatedly turns regains of possession into forward momentum. Compared to André, Gomes is more comfortable operating in stretched games as his skills are more about carries and sudden bursts of acceleration. The trade-off is that he’s less of a tempo-setter and won’t consistently dictate the rhythm from deep.
André lowers volatility; Gomes raises intensity. André secures the defensive structure; Gomes pushes play forward and constantly closes down opponents. For United, André could work as a deep point of reference, whereas Gomes would inject energy and pressure on the ball. Though the optimal scenario would be to sign a player who wraps the pair into one.
Alex Scott
Age: 22
Club: Bournemouth
Market value: £30 million
Though Scott is a top prospect in the making, it’s hard to envisage the 22-year-old arriving at Old Trafford to solve every problem in January. However, given his technical qualities, ability to navigate tight spots and glide past opponents, as well as play with a positive mindset, the reported interest does make sense.
Scott is more of a “receive and connect” kind of midfielder than a pure possession-heavy playmaker; his progressive carrying (1.95 per 90) and successful take-on (0.92 per 90) stats suggest he likes to advance play whatever the setting. But while his on-ball traits are first to catch the eye, there’s also a fair bit of tenacity to Scott’s game. He’s slightly behind the other names above on successful defensive duels (55%), though his defensive work is most certainly heading in the right direction and there’s no questioning his attitude as he’s prepared to take on responsibility, press and wanting the ball for the next action.
Scott’s defensive numbers are solid rather than breathtaking, while his passing is more on the functional side than it is dominating. Big-name clubs are surely set to fight for his signature in the future, but recent rumors of a high-profile move to Old Trafford this month might be premature and Amorim has better options to choose from. His Bournemouth teammate, United States star Tyler Adams, was also linked before he recently suffered a knee ligament injury.
HOUSTON — Ben McCollum was furious. Saliva sat on the edge of his lip, but he didn’t wipe it off. He was midtirade, and his Iowa team was down 10 points to Nebraska early in Thursday’s Sweet 16 meeting.
Next to him stood Bennett Stirtz, the Hawkeyes’ stoic star who had seen multiple McCollum outbursts. Stirtz wasn’t fazed.
“He slammed his whiteboard and broke his marker on the hardwood floor. Ink everywhere,” Stirtz said after Iowa’s come-from-behind win over Nebraska. “That’s what he likes to do. He’s the negative guy, and then our assistant coaches are the positive people. He was just telling us we sucked and we were soft.”
McCollum had a different interpretation of that pivotal moment against the Cornhuskers.
“They were moving and cutting, and I didn’t even know what was going on. So … we called [the team] into the huddle and just said very nicely, ‘I would like you to play harder, guys,'” McCollum said. “And it seemed to work. Isn’t that right? Isn’t that how that went?'”
Stirtz nodded his head.
“Yes,” he responded.
McCollum is admittedly demonstrative. Look no further than last Sunday’s near clash with Florida coach Todd Golden during Iowa’s upset of the No. 1 seed in the Round of 32.
Stirtz is the opposite. He’s perpetually cool.
That fire-and-ice pairing of McCollum and Stirtz — who are at their third school together, following stints at Division II Northwest Missouri State (2022-24) and Drake (2024-25) — has fueled Iowa’s surprise run to the Elite Eight. The Hawkeyes went just 10-10 in the Big Ten, yet are on the brink of their first Final Four appearance since 1980. It’s the fourth time in four years that McCollum and Stirtz have advanced in an NCAA tournament together. It’s also the furthest they’ve advanced at any level.
First, they made it to the second round of the 2023 Division II NCAA tournament, where Stirtz scored seven points in a loss to Southern Nazarene. A year after that, they reached the Division II Sweet 16, where Stirtz scored 12 points against Minnesota State before losing to the eventual national champion on a buzzer-beater. And after making the Division I jump to Drake last season, they won a first-round game as Stirtz carried the 11-seeded Bulldogs to a first-round upset of a 6-seeded Missouri with 20 points before running into an Elite Eight-bound Texas Tech in the second round.
There was no surprise when Stritz followed McCollum to Iowa — or when the 2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year continued to thrive in McCollum’s system. The senior guard earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after finishing fifth in the conference in scoring (19.7 PPG) but has saved his best for the NCAA tournament. His 3-pointer with 2:10 to play in Thursday’s win over Nebraska gave Iowa its first lead of the game. The Hawkeyes never trailed again, closing out the win to set up Saturday’s matchup against Illinois (6:09 p.m. ET).
0:17
Bennett Stirtz gives Iowa a lead with a 3
Bennett Stirtz knocks down a huge 3-pointer for the Hawkeyes.
“You see him on the floor, and then you see me on the sideline — so polar opposites in personalities. Not polar opposites in value,” McCollum said. “He’s super competitive. I’m super competitive. I feel like he works with a level of humility. I feel like he’s a really tough kid. I feel like he serves others, all those different things.”
Added Stirtz: “He shoots it straight. Even when it’s tough and even when it’s hard. He pushes you past your limit, and I think that’s where the trust comes in … he just pushes everyone on this team, and honestly, you can see the benefit from that.”
Minnesota State head coach Matt Margenthaler isn’t shocked by the duo’s success this March. He still has nightmares about Stirtz and McCollum’s Northwest Missouri State squad nearly derailing his team’s Division II championship run in 2023.
Their rise, Margenthaler argues, is a beacon for Division II basketball — proof that players and coaches at that level can be stars at the next, too.
“You always question, I think, when you go up a level, ‘Can he do it at that next level in the Missouri Valley Conference?’ And then he proved that in one year,” Margenthaler told ESPN. “And then, ‘Can he do it again in the Big Ten?’ And then he just continues to amaze the coaching world with what he can do.”
“[Stirtz’s] confidence has grown and grown and grown,” Margenthaler said. “He is obviously a Division I basketball player, but one that has made himself better each year. I mean, what a story: those two guys together and what they’re doing.”
And if you ask McCollum and Stirtz, they’re not done yet.
“In 20 years, it will be an insane story. A guy that goes from Division II with his coach and then goes to Drake and then goes to the University of Iowa and actually makes it farther in the tournament in Division I than he did in Division II,” McCollum said. “I think when you’re a player-coach [relationship] sometimes, you obviously care for each other and love each other and all of that, but you don’t get to connect on [this] kind of level. But it’s been a hell of a ride, but it’s far from over.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The New England Patriots were supposed to be “mid,” as Rob Gronkowski told Fox News Digital, but instead, they looked like the Pats of yesteryear.
New England stunned the football world with a 14-3 record and going all the way to the Super Bowl, led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Sure, New England perhaps benefited from an easy schedule in the regular season, and in the playoffs, they faced Jarrett Stidham instead of Bo Nix. The Super Bowl was not pretty, as they took a beating from the Seattle Seahawks.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman raises his hands in celebration with tight end Rob Gronkowski after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Danny Amendola during the third quarter of the NFL divisional playoff football game at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
But Gronkowski and one of his former teammates do not believe the 2025 Pats were any sort of fluke.
“What the New England Patriots did this season was incredible. And they’re just going to keep on building on that from here on and going into next year, I’m sure they’re going to be making the playoffs on a consistent basis now,” Gronk told Fox News Digital. “That’s the expectation. They got the quarterback, they got the coach, they got the ownership, they got the foundation now, and you’re going to see them competing at a high level every single year now, which is great for Patriot fans.”
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) warms up prior to the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Patriots have simply built the next generation of success, and Gronkowski sees the same in Infiniti and their newly-released QX65. Gronk and Julian Edelman were on hand at Grand Central Terminal in New York for the unveiling.
KYLIE KELCE REVEALS HER ‘DOS AND DON’TS’ OF TALKING TO POSTPARTUM WOMEN: ‘OH, I’M SO SERIOUS’
“I’ve always been about showing up at big moments and putting in the work behind the scenes, and that’s what stood out to me with the Infiniti. They’re really being intentional about how they move forward and what they’re building next. That’s how you got to be as a football player, as an athlete, you got to be very intentional and in order to stay at the top of your game and be able to compete at a top level. And that’s what Infiniti is doing.”
“I was fortunate enough in my career to play in a lot of big moments, and that’s exactly what you see with the Infiniti,” Edelman added. “How they are so detailed and have a purpose for everything that they do. When you look at the design of the car, the back, the interior’s spacious, very detailed. I mean, it’s just something that’s been so cool. It’s been a fun experience.”
Edelman, too, is “very confident” that the new-look Pats are here to stay.
“Anytime you got a head coach, a quarterback, an owner, and a GM working together and unison, it seems like every free agent they signed had a big moment, big role on the team. There was a lot of great things that happened.”
Edelman did warn Patriots fans to temper expectations just a bit and not expect another 14-win season. However, he does expect a more sound product on the field.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye celebrates with the AFC championship trophy after the AFC championship game between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots in Denver, Colorado, on Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“it’s time on task. You know, time on task with the quarterback. Get him ready with the offensive line, getting that offensive line kind of fixed up and get them working together more. I mean, they’re a young group. So I’m really excited for the Patriots this year,” he said.
“I think they’re for real. They may go out and not have as many wins, but I think they’re going to be a better football team this year.”
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Sports
Alex Vesia, Dodgers pitcher who lost infant daughter, gets standing ovation after scoreless return to mound
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Perhaps for the first time in 2026, Alex Vesia felt some normalcy on Friday night.
The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher made his return to the pitcher’s mound in his first Major League outing since his infant daughter died just five days after she was born.
Before the World Series, the left-hander left the team to deal with a “deeply personal matter” and did not pitch in the Fall Classic.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia celebrates after the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Days after the Dodgers won the World Series, he and his wife announced their infant daughter had died.
Vesia returned to the team during spring training and then entered the Dodgers’ game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh inning of a 4-4 tie.
It was quite the spot for Vesia to return, but given his 2.36 ERA over the last two seasons, it was no sweat. He left a runner stranded on second base and kept the D-Backs scoreless en route to the team’s 5-4 win over their division rival.
Vesia let out a yell and pointed toward the Dodgers’ family section while getting a standing ovation from the crowd.
Vesia was wearing a customized pink glove with his daughter’s name, Sterling Sol, stitched on it, along with her birthday and his wife’s first initial, K for Kayla, embroidered on the glove’s ring finger.
Alex Vesia of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on March 27, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
DODGERS PITCHER’S WIFE LIVES THROUGH ‘BITTER SWEET’ OPENING DAY MONTHS AFTER INFANT DAUGHTER’S DEATH
“What I would give to have my Sterling girl here, carrying her in my heart always,” Kayla said in an Instagram post earlier this week to celebrate a “bitter-sweet” opening day.
Sterling passed between Game 2 and Game 3 when the series was tied at one game apiece. During the Fall Classic, relievers from the Toronto Blue Jays wrote Vesia’s jersey number, 51, on their hats.
In his first news conference of the year in spring training, Vesia called his wife “the strongest person that I know” and “a support system for me every bit as much as I am for her.”
“Life can change in an instant. For us, 10 minutes is all it took,” Vesia said in February. “Sterling Sol was the most beautiful girl in the world. We got to hold her, change her diaper, read to her and love her. Our time together was far too short. Kay and I will keep those precious moments and memories to ourselves.
“Stepping away from the team, the brothers that I go to war with every day, was difficult, but it was also an easy decision because my family needed me. We still watched every pitch of the World Series, and for us in so many ways, that was a light in our darkness.
Alex Vesia of the Los Angeles Dodgers thanks the crowd during the 2025 Back-to-Back World Champions Ring Ceremony prior to the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we’re carrying her with us every day. It’s been hard, but we’re doing OK.”
The back-to-back reigning World Series champions are 2-0 to start the MLB season.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
The unlikely rise of Iowa’s Ben McCollum, Bennett Stirtz: Division II to Elite Eight
Anti-Trump protests launch on ‘No Kings’ day in US
India opposes China-led IFD pact’s inclusion; flags risks to WTO framework and core principles – The Times of India
-
Business1 week agoFlipkart group CFO to leave co amid IPO plans – The Times of India
-
Fashion1 week agoChina’s textile & apparel exports surge 17% to $50 bn in Jan-Feb 2026
-
Sports1 week agoRating Adidas’ 2026 World Cup away shirts: Argentina, Spain, Mexico and more
-
Sports1 week agoAmerican Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti thanks Trump for Army-Navy game executive order
-
Tech1 week ago
The Corsair 4000D RS PC Case Keeps Your System Cool
-
Tech1 week agoGamers Hate Nvidia’s DLSS 5. Developers Aren’t Crazy About It, Either
-
Tech1 week ago‘Uncanny Valley’: Nvidia’s ‘Super Bowl of AI,’ Tesla Disappoints, and Meta’s VR Metaverse ‘Shutdown’
-
Business4 days agoProperty Play: Home flippers see smallest profits since the Great Recession, real estate data firm says