United reignite pursuit of “brilliant” PL giant after World Cup heroics, INEOS want to strike cut-price deal – report

Manchester United are ramping up their interest in Fulham enforcer Sander Berge after a key meeting between INEOS and Michael Carrick, according to a new report. Third midfielder is needed With two new signings already completed to bolster midfield, the Red Devils are not preparing to slow down there, given Kobbie Mainoo is the only option with a long-term future at the club. The departure of Casemiro as a free agent and Manuel Ugarte’s serious injury have made a major revamp in the engine room the priority. A double raid on Premier League rivals — first striking a £50 million deal with Chelsea for Andrey Santos, then triggering the £35m release clause for Aston Villa maestro Youri Tielemans — has gone some way towards fixing this issue. But after sporting director Jason Wilcox held talks with Carrick over the plans for the summer, it was decided three midfielders needed to arrive to ensure the squad is ready for the challenge of fighting on four fronts next season. A third-placed finish means Champions League football will return to Old Trafford, while there is expectation for deeper runs in the domestic cup competitions, having crashed out at the first hurdle under Ruben Amorim last year. “Jason Wilcox has led that recruitment process, and after sitting down with Carrick, has identified the need for three central midfielders following Casemiro’s departure at the end of his contract,” TEAMtalk reveals. “United had also planned to cash in on Manuel Ugarte this summer, but the Uruguay international suffered what is expected to be a season-ending knee injury during the World Cup, ensuring the club must now replace him regardless.” A Serious Option Heading into the summer window, Elliot Anderson was Manchester United’s leading candidate to replace Casemiro, with Mateus Fernandes an alternative to the England international. There were also hopes of a bombshell move for Real Madrid superstar Aurelien Tchouameni. Deals for all three proved outside of United’s reach, however, forcing INEOS to pivot towards other targets, such as Santos and Tielemans. But Sander Berge was another under-the-radar name whom the recruitment team had identified as an option. The 28-year-old midfielder arrived at Craven Cottage in the summer of 2024 after signing from Burnley for £25 million. It is understood United had considered a move at this point, but opted to pursue Ugarte instead. This has proven unwise, however, with the 25-year-old Uruguayan having struggled to adapt to the physicality of English football. Meanwhile, Berge has thrived in west London, emerging as one of the most underrated players in the Premier League. TEAMtalk claims United could be set to correct this mistake, with the Norway international “emerging as a serious option” for that third midfield slot. His performances for his country at the World Cup have only “enhanced his growing reputation…producing a series of commanding displays as Norway’s midfield anchor”. Well-placed sources indicate United “believe the Fulham midfielder could be signed for less than £40million, making him one of the most attractive value-for-money options currently available” when compared to other options like Carlos Baleba or Alex Scott. Final Thoughts With a midfield triumvirate of Mainoo, Santos and Tielemans, Carrick now has three outstanding technicians at his disposal. But the unit lacks a physical monster to balance it; an imposing defensive midfielder to act as the security guard for the defence. Possessing a powerful 6’5″ frame, Berge fits the bill perfectly, even if he is not the sexiest name linked to Old Trafford this summer. When combined with his underrated technique and excellent attitude, the “brilliant” Norwegian is the type of signing data analytic teams love, but leaves fans scratching their heads. However, given Berge turns 29 next season, with Tielemans in the same age bracket, it poses an obstacle as INEOS prefer to target players in the 22-26 range. But if Fulham are willing to accept a reasonable price for their star midfielder, United’s hierarchy could make another exception. 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 Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.