United planning to sign two phenomenal stars to transform problem position in ambitious £200m deal – report

Assembling a world-class midfield remains Manchester United’s biggest priority this summer. The need for quality additions Christian Eriksen left last summer and was never replaced. Now, Casemiro is also expected to leave. Manuel Ugarte was meant to step into his shoes, yet he has struggled to convince. It hardly needs explaining why United must give their midfield full attention, injecting the quality required to lay the foundation for the dominance the Old Trafford faithful crave. Linked names and emerging favourites Several midfielders have been linked with a move to M16: Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Scott McTominay, Adam Wharton, Eduardo Camavinga and Angelo Stiller. Yet according to Teamtalk, United are intent on a double swoop. The UK outlet reveals: “As things stand, their favoured targets are Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba. But they will have to spend around £200m to sign the Premier League duo.” Baleba and Anderson could indeed be brilliant additions to this United side. It was unfortunate that a move for Baleba failed to materialise last summer. His dip in form since then is disappointing, but form is temporary, class is permanent. The Cameroonian international remains the “midfield beast” INEOS admired last year. A change of scenery, particularly a move to Manchester, could well help him rediscover his spark. Anderson: The warrior United need As for Anderson, he is arguably the finest young midfielder the Premier League has to offer at the moment. United need the warrior he embodies, carrying the ball as though angry at it, direct, brave, and never hiding in games. He could be the perfect heir to Casemiro. His energy and ball-winning qualities would ensure United do not miss the Samba star. The Anderson battle While a deal for Baleba should be straightforward if United and Brighton can strike terms, Anderson’s case is trickier. The Nottingham Forest man is also a prime target for Manchester City, with the Cityzens prepared to spend big to secure his services. INEOS must find a way to win that race. Should they succeed, a Baleba-Anderson partnership could anchor United’s midfield for years to come. Featured image Dan Istidene via Getty Images 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  Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.