MAN UNITED EYE £60M KARIM ADEYEMI AS TRANSFER TALKS HEAT UP
Man Utd host Everton as the in-form Red Devils look to continue their climb. Off the pitch, a move for Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi looks unlikely in January due to a £60m+ price tag.
Bundesliga Star Valued At £60M - Photo Credit: Getty Images
On Monday night, Manchester United will host Everton at Old Trafford in a thrilling Premier League match.
With three wins and two draws in their previous five games, the Red Devils have recently found their form again and are now seventh in the top division standings.
In the past, Ruben Amorim's team had had a rough start to the new campaign, and there was a lot of conjecture about the Portuguese's future.
However, the former Sporting manager appears to have taken some of the burden off him, and he will be hoping that his team maintains its strong run of form when they face the Toffees.
Meanwhile, it looks like United will need to shell out a lot of cash to acquire one of their transfer targets.
Borussia Dortmund will want a fee of over £60 million for Karim Adeyemi, a target for Manchester United, according to Football Insider.
The Germany international's future at Dortmund is reportedly in doubt after talks over a new deal broke down.
The star's current contract expires at the end of the upcoming season, and negotiations for a new one have not yet advanced, which has led to speculation about his future.
The 23-year-old Adeyemi joined Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg in Austria in 2022, but in 121 games with the German team, he has scored only 29 goals and provided 22 assists.
The German striker is reportedly a target for United, but given his exorbitant price tag, the report indicates that United is unlikely to sign him during the forthcoming January transfer window.
Nonetheless, the story does imply that the striker may be offered at a reduced cost when he enters the final 12 months of his present contract next summer.
RUBEN AMORIM GREENLIGHTS MASSIVE £200M MAN UTD TRANSFER MASTERSTROKE
Man Utd are prioritising a £200m double midfield swoop for Brighton's Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson to solve their long-standing midfield imbalance under Ruben Amorim.
Amorim cashes in - Image via Manchester United
Manchester United is still having trouble settling into the season, despite its best attempts to turn things around. Following their worst season in recent memory, the Red Devils shelled out over £200million in the summer on Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in an attempt to improve Ruben Amorim's forward line.
But even though one significant issue has been resolved, this campaign has brought up another long-standing difficulty. United continue to be troubled by an uneven midfield that is frequently overrun by inferior teams.
Club executives and Amorim are well aware of the necessity of investing in central midfield, as was previously stated. Additionally, the Red Devils plan to prioritise two acquisitions during the upcoming summer transfer window as part of their long-term rebuilding strategy.
Carlos Baleba is one name that keeps coming up. After an inquiry, the 21-year-old Brighton midfielder was strongly connected to a move to Old Trafford last summer. However, Brighton finally rejected United's interest in the player.
It is believed that despite Brighton's exorbitant asking price of almost £100 million, Amorim is still very interested in the Cameroon international, Baleba. You could say that is a price worth paying.
Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, another prodigy on United's radar, is priced between £100 million and £120 million. After his impressive performances for Forest and the England national team, the versatile midfielder—who can play as a No. 6 or as a roaming midfielder—has drawn a lot of attention.
Amorim has already put Anderson on their watchlist as one of the best talents in English football. The England star was hailed as a "very good player" by the Portuguese manager before their game against Forest this season. It appears that appreciation has now evolved into actual interest.
According to Sky Germany, the 23-year-old has no release clause, which gives Forest significant negotiating leverage. The Red Devils are reportedly willing to make every effort to get his services, though.
Although some may object to paying £200 million for both players, it is unquestionably a necessary investment. Compared to his existing alternatives, they would give Amorim far greater stability and balance in the middle of the pitch and serve as the team's midfield backbone for years to come.
This season, the Portuguese manager has been obliged to use Bruno Fernandes in a deeper midfield role inside his 3-4-2-1 system, pairing him with either the unimpressive Manuel Ugarte or the ageing Casemiro. In that position, the United captain’s defensive discipline and focus have occasionally been found wanting, with opposition sides capitalising to destructive effect.
By bringing in Anderson and Baleba, Fernandes would be able to return to his preferred position as one of the attacking playmakers working behind the striker, sharing the field with players like Cunha. The 31-year-old Portugal international has probably already given his finest performances while wearing a United shirt, so cutting back on his playing time could help the team and player in the future.
The playmaker, who almost joined Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal during the summer transfer window but turned down their attractive offer, might also be sold. United might be prudent to accept such a high price to finance their twin midfield swoop if they return with a bid of around £70 million.
Beyond their midfield issues, United may target Daniel Munoz, the right wing-back for Crystal Palace. Since joining from Belgian team Genk in 2024, the Colombian has made an impression at Selhurst Park. He recently acknowledged that wearing the renowned Red Devils shirt would be a "dream."
Even though Munoz has a deal with Palace through 2028, he seems to be considering his next move. He acknowledged, though, that he does not have any "solid information" that United or his other top targets, Barcelona, PSG, and Real Madrid, are actually interested in signing him.
His attributes would undoubtedly make him an asset to Amorim's team. The 29-year-old has made 81 Eagles appearances and scored eight goals. In addition to helping the team win the FA Cup and Community Shield, his unwavering work ethic and offensive skills made him a deserving successor to Diogo Dalot.
BOOST FOR MANCHESTER UNITED AS JOAO GOMES, 24, ENTERS TRANSFER RADAR
Wolves may be forced to sell Joao Gomes, giving Man Utd a transfer boost. The Brazilian midfielder is a key target to add quality and control to United's engine room, but his sale would devastate Wolves.
Manchester United gain momentum in pursuit of 24-year-old Brazilian talent - Credit: Getty Images/Jack Thomas
According to Football Insider, Wolves may have to sell Joao Gomes in the upcoming months, which would greatly benefit Manchester United. The 24-year-old Brazilian would be a good addition to the park, which needs more quality and control.
Gomes is unquestionably a talented player who will aim to compete at a high level. Gomes will be tempted if a major team approaches him, as Wolves are currently struggling to stay in the Premier League. How things turn out is still up in the air.
It will be intriguing to see whether Manchester United decides to raid the Premier League team for Joao Gomes now by pursuing their interest in Matheus Cunha, who they have acquired from Wolves this year.
It would be disastrous for Wolves to lose the 24-year-old South American midfield player in the upcoming months. They are struggling to stay in the top flight, and losing one of their finest players could make it harder for them to do so.
Joao Gomes, meanwhile, will wish to participate and contend for trophies in Europe. It would be perfect for him to join one of the world's largest clubs. This could be the ideal chance for the 24-year-old to take on a new challenge as he approaches the golden years of his career.
It can be difficult to decline the chance to join Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world. If Manchester United makes a good bid for him, it will be interesting to watch. They have not yet made a specific proposal to follow up on their interest.
The 24-year-old may have an immediate effect at Manchester United and is already comfortable in the Premier League. If the transfer is approved, Joao Gomes might prove to be a valuable member of the team. In order to have enough time to find a replacement, Wolves should ideally try to keep him on the team until the conclusion of the season and then sell him in the summer.