United eye surprise move for 20-yo midfield dynamo who lit up Champions League this week – report

The midfield is expected to be the focal point of Manchester United’s transfer plans for this year. INEOS’ calculated approach to squad reinforcements has already paid dividends, with three of last summer’s four signings now key members of the first-team squad. Bryan Mbeumo and Senne Lammens have been indispensable to the Premier League giants this season, while Matheus Cunha has come into his own in recent games. Benjamin Sesko, meanwhile, remains highly regarded at Old Trafford despite a mixed start to life in England. With the attack almost sorted, United are preparing to improve the midfield, which is expected to undergo a significant change soon. Casemiro will leave the club this summer, while Manuel Ugarte’s situation remains unclear. The Red Devils remain linked with several Premier League-proven faces at the moment, but it now appears that they are also keeping an eye on an emerging star from the Belgian league. United monitoring Aleksandar Stankovic According to journalist Matteo Moretto, United are among the clubs interested in Club Brugge midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic. Speaking on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel, Moretto said: “Many English clubs have gone to watch him and scout him live – Tottenham, Manchester United, lots of teams.” “But Inter are continuing to follow Stankovic’s development, and they’re staying very calm. Why? Because they have the option to bring him back home either in summer 2026 (July 2026) by paying €23 million, or in July 2027 by paying €25 million. So basically, in the end, it’s all in Inter’s hands.” The Red Devils have already found success with a recent signing from the Belgian Pro League, with Lammens, who arrived last summer from Royale Antwerp, proving to be a smart buy. It now appears that the Premier League giants could be tempted to repeat the trick with Stankovic. Who is Aleksandar Stankovic? Stankovic is a product of Inter Milan’s academy, and broke into the first team in 2022. After spending the 2024/25 season on loan at Luzern, the 20 year old moved permanently to Club Brugge last summer. The Serbian defensive midfielder has been outstanding since arriving in Belgium, registering seven goals and four assists in 35 appearances across competitions this season. Aleksandar Stankovic Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Jupiler Pro League2118412-1,642′ UEFA Champions League8822–700′ UEFA Champions League Qualifying421—213′ Croky Cup22-1–180′ Total3530742-2,735′ Source: Transfermarkt. Earlier this week, Stankovic delivered a man-of-the-match performance in the 3-0 win over Marseille in the Champions League, forcing his admirers to take note. The youngster, who is the son of Inter Milan legend Dejan Stankovic, is a holding midfielder who can also operate in a box-to-box role, making him an enticing prospect for United. Final Thoughts United are expected to break the bank for a proven Premier League midfielder this summer, with Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba high on their wish list. However, a cut-price move for an emerging star like Stankovic could pay dividends in years to come. The Serbian suits the Red Devils’ recent youth-centric transfer approach. His ball-winning ability and technicality could even make him a smart replacement for Casemiro at the Theatre of Dreams. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.