Manchester United have decided to keep Erik ten Hag as their manager for the 2024/25 season, changing the opinion many thought INEOS held before the FA Cup Final that he would be fired regardless of that outcome of the match.
But Manchester United’s new ownership group did have a change of heart, convinced by the big win over Manchester City that secured European football for a side that finished a historically poor eighth in the Premier League.
Now, the task becomes to retool the squad and rectify the ills of past transfer markets, which includes assembling an aging and inept midfield.
Manchester United have one true building block in the midfield positions behind star playmaker Bruno Fernandes, and that is young breakout star Kobbie Mainoo, who is already a key player for the England national team.
The Red Devils will endeavor to scour the transfer market for the best options next to Mainoo, and the solution could be right next to them in the Premier League.
Fulham star Joao Palhinha has been coveted by a number of big clubs in European football, namely Bayern Munich, and he has recently become of interest to Manchester United.
Palhinha is expected to join Bayern once Die Roten offer Fulham a fee closer to their asking price of 60 million pounds, though the Cottagers may not be able to get that kind of money.
Although Palhinha comes with a “buyer beware” tag at the age of 28, the Fulham star is in the prime of his career and should have three to four years of top-class football in him as a defensive midfielder, aging more gracefully than, say, a winger.
Palhinha is coming off another monstrous Premier League campaign with six combined tackles and interceptions per game and nearly two fouls drawn per match.
Plus, Palhinha scored four goals, and there is a sense that his offensive output could increase from the midfield if he were to join a bigger club than Fulham,
The previous season, when Fulham were flirting with European football, the Portuguese international was also very good statistically, but he has put up even better numbers in 2023/24 with arguably less fanfare.
Manchester United could sign Palhinha as a defensive destroyer next to Kobbie Mainoo, giving the Red Devils two great ball-winners and dangerous progressors.
Man United may need to make two midfield signings to replace some of their current players, such as Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, but that hinges on any offers for Mason Mount and the final decision on up-and-down loanee Sofyan Amrabat.
For now, if Manchester United want to go for the best available player in the defensive midfield regardless of age or cost, Palhinha is the main target.
He is proven in the Premier League, he can excel against top opponents in this league, his defensive numbers are the standard in English football right now, he can add goals, and he can be consistent even if the players around him aren’t at their best.
INEOS and Manchester United would be best served waiting and looking at all the available options as the midfield market develops, but Palhinha is a standout pick from within the English top flight.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He has been an editor for NFL Spin Zone, Daily DDT for pro wrestling, Autzen Zoo covering the Oregon Ducks, Musket Fire covering the New England Patriots, The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Old Juve covering Juventus, Rush The Kop covering Liverpool, and Release The Knappen covering Schalke. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.