There is no doubt that Kobbie Mainoo has revolutionised the Premier League and English football since his debut on a windy and rainy night at Goodison Park last November.
He scored late winners, made his England debut, led the Three Lions to a European Championship final and won the FA Cup for Manchester United in almost impossible circumstances.
Doing all this as a teenager gives fans and perhaps senior figures at United the impression that Old Trafford has its midfielder secured for the next decade.
The question now is: who is Erik ten Hag looking for to partner him in midfield?
The Jugo Mobile looks at the Englishman’s potential future midfield partners at the Theatre of Dreams.
All the latest Premier League club news | Premier League team fixtures for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings
Possible midfield signings for Manchester United
United have long sought a replacement for Michael Carrick since his retirement in 2018. The Englishman signed from Spurs in 2006 and enjoyed a successful decade as a partner to Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher.
They tried Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk for £47m ($60m), Donny van de Beek from Ajax (£39m/$50m) and, most recently, Casemiro from Real Madrid for £70m ($89m).
None of which have been too successful, to say the least.
Manuel Ugarte
Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Ugarte began his footballing career and was sought after throughout Europe from an early age after making his professional debut at just 15 years old during the 2016 Copa Sudamericana, becoming Uruguay’s youngest professional player of the 21st century.
He began his career as a striker before moving to midfield, where he secured a move to Portugal to play for Famalicao in December 2020, which then led to a transfer to Sporting CP for €6.5 million ($7 million) in 2021.
At Sporting, Ugarte became increasingly popular, especially after the departure of João Palhinha. He is highly valued for his ability to win back the ball, his tackles and recoveries and, since joining PSG in 2023, he has gained composure in his game.
Ugarte quickly became a standout player in Ligue 1 and a vital part of the Uruguay national team that excelled at the 2024 Copa América.
However, his price tag may be considered excessive as the French side look to recoup some of the money spent on Joao Neves from Benfica, but reports of a loan deal have been widely shared.
Youssouf Fofana
With PSG demanding a high price for Ugarte, United have reportedly identified Youssouf Fofana as a possible alternative signing.
Fofana, who has been at Monaco since 2020, could be available for a more affordable fee as his contract expires next summer. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 25-year-old could cost just £17m ($21.7m) this summer, which would give United a significant advantage in negotiations.
Fofana’s impressive statistics have sparked interest and since the start of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season, he has won possession in the middle third of the pitch 297 times, more than any other player. He also ranks in the top 5% of midfielders for progressive passes, averaging 8.3 per 90 minutes.
His former teammate Cesc Fabregas recently praised the Frenchman: “He’s a very dynamic and strong player, good on the ball, a modern type of player, aggressive, he can jump, he’s box to box.”
“I really like Fofana and I think he fits in very well with the style of the Premier League,” he added.
Joey Veerman
?⚪️ Joey Veerman chose his spot ⚽️#UEL image.twitter.com/JVGNfaR6Aj
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) July 31, 2024
Another option could be PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman, who is seen as a leading candidate after playing a crucial role in PSV’s league title win last season and also excelling for the Netherlands at Euro 2024.
He scored eight goals in 41 appearances in all competitions last season and the 25-year-old previously played for Volendam, Heerenveen and PSV.
He also seems to fit the profile of Ten Hag when it comes to signings… anyone from the Netherlands will do.
Jude Bellingham
Although Jude Bellingham is not currently considering a transfer, he and Mainoo developed a strong relationship during the European Championships while playing for England.
Bellingham has previously turned down a move to Manchester United in favour of joining Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham City. However, as an English player, it is hard to imagine him ever playing in the Premier League.
Given their youth, a partnership between Bellingham and Mainoo at Old Trafford would be unforgettable, but for now it remains a tantalising possibility rather than a reality.
