Manchester United have secured a top-four finish in Erik ten Hag’s first season as manager, but he knows as well as anyone that the Red Devils will need an injection of talent in the summer 2023 transfer window in order to truly compete at the top of the league table and in the Champions League.
Last summer, United transformed their midfield defensively by signing Casemiro to help anchor the team defensively and add much-needed leadership. Acquiring Marcel Sabitzer on loan in the winter was another smart move.
But for 2023/24, United need to invest in midfielders with the quality to play at the highest level in the immediate future and for the next several seasons.
Here are 10 possible midfield transfer targets for Manchester United in the summer 2023 transfer window.
Gabri Veiga, Celta Vigo
Gabri Veiga is one of the hot up-and-coming stars in LaLiga, playing a key role in helping Celta Vigo avoid the drop. The 21-year-old is wanted by virtually every top club in European football, because he has shown game-changing ability on the attacking end.
With nine goals, four assists, and 2.2 combined dribbles completed and fouls drawn this season in LaLiga, Veiga could be the next big thing in Spanish football. He is affordable with a 40 million euro release clause, but because he’s a more attacking option and would not fit as well in the double-pivot behind Bruno Fernandes, Veiga may be too much of a “luxury” target for United.
Still, he is quite talented and absolutely someone Manchester United should think about.
Manu Koné, Borussia Mönchengladbach
An even more attractive target is Manu Koné from the Bundesliga. A top club like PSG or even the Bundesliga’s own Borussia Dortmund could be the landing spot for Koné, who also has virtually every well-known club in European football hot on his heels in the 2023 market.
Koné is a better true midfielder than Gabri Veiga and can seamlessly fit into United’s pivot behind Bruno. The 22-year-old Frenchman burst onto the scene in 2021/22 and sealed his status as one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga this past season despite Borussia Mönchengladbach’s continued instability and inconsistency on the pitch.
A brilliant progressor of the ball with his dribbling skills, Koné can intelligently read the game on both ends of the pitch and is one of the best defensive options on this list. He should be a priority transfer target for Erik ten Hag and can be a star for several years to come.
João Palhinha, Fulham
For an even more defensive option than Gladbach’s Manu Koné, Manchester United could try to pluck a current Premier League standout in breakout star João Palhinha.
The 27-year-old is in the prime of his career, having blossomed at Fulham as a critical part of the Cottagers’ surprising push for European football at one point this season. Though Fulham are now six points off the pace of a Conference League spot, Palhinha’s reputation as one of the best defensive midfielders in English football is sealed.
He is averaging a stunning 5.5 combined tackles and interceptions this season. Maybe United’s pivot of Casemiro and Palhinha would be too defensive, but with all the attacking talent they have, such as Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho, it might actually be wise to sign another established defensive stalwart.
Mason Mount, Chelsea
Taking a gamble on Mason Mount seems unlikely, but there is no questioning his technical ability and the fact that in a playmaking role, he was one of the best players in the Premier League for Chelsea with 11 goals and 10 assists in the 2021/22 league season.
A former Champions League winner, Mount hasn’t been more productive than Bruno Fernandes lately, so an upgrade on the 10 position is probably not on the cards. If United entertain the idea of loaning Jadon Sancho to Dortmund, which is unlikely, then a second playmaker could be on the cards. As it stands right now, Mount is intriguing but probably unwise.
Mateo Kovačić, Chelsea
Teammate Mateo Kovačić could be a more suitable transfer target for Manchester United, given he is a box-to-box midfielder who can ideally fit a double-pivot. He would be the more press-resistant between Casemiro and himself, and, well, he does have a past working relationship with the Brazilian superstar from their days together at Real Madrid.
A serial winner, Kovačić is a leader in midfield who plays with passion and heart on both ends of the pitch. He is a capable ball-winner, a quality technician, and one of the best in the world with the ball at his feet at progressing play. Kovačić, on paper, is exactly the kind of profile Erik ten Hag could use in midfield.
Sofyan Amrabat, Fiorentina
The intelligent Sofyan Amrabat has made quite the name for himself in 2022/23 for both Fiorentina and the Moroccan national team at the last World Cup.
In truth, Amrabat has always been quality, but he has really stood out this season for his composure on the ball in picking out passes and in his relentless strength defensively to win possession back for Fiorentina. Amrabat is even better than he gets to show for the Viola, who are still working out a more balanced midfield around the 26-year-old as their anchor.
So many top clubs, such as Liverpool and Barcelona, have been linked to Amrabat. He’s ready for the next big step in his career, and if Manchester United want a great defensive option with better passing range than Casé, the Moroccan could be an ideal transfer from Serie A.
Davide Frattesi, Sassuolo
Sticking with the Italian top flight, Davide Frattesi is an energetic midfielder and a younger alternative to Mateo Kovačić to pair a box-to-box player with Casemiro.
Frattesi has been a bright spot for Sassuolo in what has been an up-and-down season for the usually competitive Neroverdi. He is one of the most highly-regarded young midfielders in Italian football, which generally has no shortage of quality at this position. Juventus, Roma, and other top clubs are courting Frattesi hard in 2023.
There are also Premier League teams involved, such as Manchester United. Frattesi plays with a lot of heart defensively and never stops working for the team. He is difficult to stop with the ball at his feet and has a knack for coming up with big goals for Sassuolo. He can check off a lot of boxes for the Red Devils.
Ryan Gravenberch, Bayern München
A technical option in midfield, Ryan Gravenberch earned rave reviews as a future star for Ajax, got his big move to Bayern München, and proceeded to sit on the bench despite the fact that Leon Goretzka has been having a very disappointing 2022/23 campaign for the record champions.
Gravenberch is expected to stay in Bavaria and fight for his place, because he has the quality to be a star there. However, a reunion with Erik ten Hag and the chance to play for an equally prestigious side in the Premier League could be quite enticing for Gravenberch. Ten Hag’s ability to work with young players could put United over the edge to sign Gravenberch, who likely sees how key Antony has been since joining the English side.
Accurate with his passing, capable of scoring goals from distance, and ice-cold on the ball at the age of 21, Gravenberch is a high-class young midfielder who suits a double pivot very well.
Declan Rice, West Ham
A dream target for so many clubs around European football, such as Bayern München, Declan Rice may very well be at the top of ten Hag’s list for United, too.
Rice is brilliant. He is a great athlete and one of the best defensive midfielders in the world when it comes to reading the game and making interventions, yet he is also adept at controlling play. Rice rarely misplaces a pass, even when under pressure, and he can progress play quickly for West Ham.
A club like Manchester United could give Rice even more of the ball and allow him to show the full extent of his creative capabilities. His passing range is strong, his technical quality is high, and he seems like the kind of player who can blossom as a superstar on a better team like United.
Adrien Rabiot, Juventus
The Red Devils have been linked with Adrien Rabiot for a couple of years now, and it might actually make more sense to sign the Frenchman in 2023 than in those previous seasons. Rabiot is perhaps the only player who has improved his game under the draconian Max Allegri, showing good box-to-box energy and ball-winning.
Though Rabiot is a free agent, he will command a high salary in free agency and probably doesn’t have a great deal of resale value because of that. Furthermore, Rabiot is one of those players who looks great against easier opponents who give him space but lacks in quality on the ball – both in his own half and in the opposition half – against stronger foes. While Rabiot isn’t a bad option for Manchester United, it may be better for the club to focus on other options, even if they require a higher transfer fee.
But as a rotation player, if the wages are right, Rabiot could be an asset to Manchester United.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.