It is no secret that Manchester United are in the market for midfielders in the summer transfer window.

United have already completed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta in a £38million move, with just the official confirmation still to come.

But the Red Devils have always maintained that they want to complete two deals in the middle of the park and that may become three if Manuel Ugarte is sold during the transfer window too.

United have been linked with a host of names already this summer. Elliot Anderson was the number one priority, but United have dropped out of the race to sign the Nottingham Forest midfielder, due to the huge financial package it would take to sign him.

Big names have been linked with Manchester United move

Sarah Meyssonnier Via Reuters

They also did not want to enter into a bidding war with rivals Manchester City, who have already seen two bids of more than £100million knocked back by Evangelos Marinakis.

Aurelien Tchouameni, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have all been heavily linked, but all would take a hefty pay packet to get done too.

That may lead to United turning to alternative options and one has emerged in the form of Marc Casado.

The 22-year-old is still trying to find his feet at the Camp Nou, making 34 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona last season, albeit only 15 as a starter in Hansi Flick’s La Liga title-winning side.

Casado had made 29 starts in the previous campaign and was linked with a move away from the Catalan giants then too. Flick said last year: “I spoke with Marc Casado, I don’t see him wanting to leave the team, nor do I think I want that either. The season is long, and we want to achieve everything.”

It remains to be seen whether Flick’s or Casado’s stance has changed in a year, but Mundo Deportivo claims that United have already made contact over a move to sign the defensive midfielder this summer.

United have made enquiries with the player’s agent Jorge Mendes over a move to Old Trafford this summer, and with a £22million price tag on his shoulders, would come considerably cheaper than some of their alternatives.

In an analytical piece on the player back in 2024, Breaking the Lines called him a La Masia gem and said: “With a rare mix of technique and stamina, Casado has the potential to dominate the center of the pitch for Barcelona for years to come. As he keeps growing and improving his skills, there’s no doubt he is destined to become a key midfielder for Barcelona and can be one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.”

High praise indeed and it may be that he has to move to a different club to prove it.

Liverpool have added Brighton and Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh to their transfer shortlist as a back-up option if they are unable to agree a deal for top winger target Yan Diomande, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.

After announcing Andoni Iraola as Arne Slot’s replacement at the start of the month, Liverpool have sprung into action in the transfer market and agreed a deal to sign Osasuna winger Victor Munoz out of nowhere on Wednesday night.

The Reds have beaten Premier League rivals Newcastle United to the signature of the Spain international, who is currently representing his country at the 2026 World Cup and has already completed a medical in America.

The Merseyside outfit have identified the wide positions as a key area they need to strengthen in this summer transfer window, with two new players expected to arrive.

The transfer plan is of little surprise given the Reds are losing Mohamed Salah, while Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined with a serious long-term injury.

The left-sided Munoz is set to be the first through the door at Anfield, but now club chiefs want to sign Salah’s long-term successor too.

Jacobs: Liverpool Add Minteh to Transfer Shortlist

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Liverpool are working hard on a deal to sign RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande, who they have identified as the top target to replace Salah.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a stunning breakthrough campaign for the Bundesliga club, and he has carried his club form into the World Cup by winning the man of the match award in his first-ever appearance at the tournament as the Ivory Coast beat Ecuador.

While Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola are near the top of the club’s wishlist, there are other names on there too, as revealed by Jacobs on the latest episode of GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast.

He said: “Diomande is the preference. Diomande is the one that Liverpool are working on, and it could develop as a consequence, but if it isn’t to be Diomande, I can give you some other targets.

“One, as we’ve known for quite some time, is Bradley Barcola and PSG, if they win the race for Yan Diomande, may suddenly become open to selling Barcola, even though, as of now, their stance is basically not for sale. But it’s not impossible if another player comes in that PSG’s perspective changes.

“Then there are some new names I can give you on the Liverpool shortlist as well. Said El Mala is one at Koln, Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh is another, and Lillle’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo is a third name. All three of those players are also on Liverpool’s radar and have been discussed and presented to new manager Andoni Iraola.”

Pace is Key for Liverpool and Iraola

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There is one thing that all of these key targets have in common, and it is their explosive pace.

Minteh has been recorded as one of the top 10 fastest players in the Premier League previously, and Dutch football writer Lentin Goodijk has described him as being ‘lightning quick’.

While Liverpool and Iraola have some good technical forwards to pick from right now, the Spaniard obviously feels that he wants to add some real speed to his attacking options as they look to significantly improve on their performances this season.

Whether it be Diomande, Minteh or any of the other names on the shortlist, Liverpool’s plan is clear.