The United Stand has revealed that "Ruben Amorim sees a new midfielder as a key component in his rebuild this summer.

However, funds will need to be raised and to facilitate this Casemiro or Mainoo would need to be moved on. Collyer could also leave this summer, with a loan looking most likely."

I don't think we needed such news to inform us that a midfielder is needed. With all the understandable excitement about Matheus Cunha, potentially Bryan Mbeumo and even Viktor Gyokeres, you may have forgotten that we need other areas to improve.

Should we sign those three players and neglect the midfielder, wing-backs and goalkeeper, it would remind me of the summer we signed Cristiano Ronaldo. We didn't actually need him as even then, a midfielder was required yet we went for the sensational return of a legend.

That didn't work out.

We cannot repeat this mistake again.

This isn't me saying that we shouldn't be looking at a striker or no 10s but we absolutely need to bring in someone who is perfect for the midfield.

I spoke about where captain Bruno Fernandes is best used and while I came to a certain conclusion, isn't wasn't definite as arguments can be made for him to play both as a no 8 and no 10 although the manager does fvor him in a specific position.

But, I really won't feel all that confortable should we keep the current midfield and not improve.

In the ranks, we have:

Casemiro

Manuel Ugarte

Kobbie Mainoo

Toby Collyer

Bruno Fernandes

That isn't much of a list and nor is it of optimum quality.

This is why Amorim will be wanting the club to sign another midfielder but who will that be, we don't know and if we cannot bring in someone, so what would the ideal midfield look like for United next season?

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Casemiro and Ugarte

I found that when Ruben Amorim started using this duo from February onward, they worked really well together. The pair seemed to have developed a bond and understanding that we didn't really see with any other duo.

The two of them are quite robust and physical which is a good thing but can sometimes work against them as they can be too tackle-happy often resulting in them being booked, which isn't ideal as they are regularly towing the sendinf off line.

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Casemiro and Ugarte are also more defensive than any other pair as both are CDMs. Neither have that ability to carry the ball from midfield as well as you'd like nor are they known for their creativity from deep. Yes they can provide quality in the final third but that isn't necessarily a strength of theirs.

With that being said though, the two of them did have a healthy goal scoring and assisting record towards the end of the campaign. It was actually unforeseen and very surprising that Amorim decided to bench Ugarte and not even use him for the last two matches which included the 1-0 loss to Spurs in the Europa League final.

It still doesn't make sense.

This pair can work when playing certain teams (away at Anfield, against Arsenal) when we need to be a bit more defensive but in the long run though, it isn't necessarily how we want to play as it suggests we are going for a more on the back foot approach.

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Casemiro/Ugarte and Bruno

I believe that this is what Amorim wanted to do when he took over. I think he sees Bruno as a no 8.

The problem with this is that while the magnifico will continue his output in attack and make up for the lack of quality on the ball from Casemiro and Ugarte but as he is il-disciplined and all over the place, he can appear everywhere and nowhere and leave his midfield partner isolated. They then get overrun and the opposition is in on our goal.

Bruno's risk-taking style of play also means that he may give the ball away in dangerous areas leaving us exposed.

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He will provide the energy required but he is too attack-minded meaning he is better in err, attack.

Ugarte is also the best when it comes to effectiveness in the high-press for United as his ability to win the ball back higher up the field is unmatched. I believe he needs to be one of the midfield pairing.

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Mainoo and Collyer

These two are much too young to be running the midfield of Man Utd although with Mainoo being a no 8 and Collyer a no 6, they could provide that balance we need in midfield.

The United academy products are also relatively injury prone as both missed a good chunk of the season. Mainoo had two seperate issues which caused him to miss 17 games while Collyer also had two problems that kept him out for a good period.

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Amorim also doesn't seem to be in favor of Mainoo as since he's been back, the manager has used him in cameo appearances off the bench and preferred Mason Mount ahead of him as well.

As per this report, he, Collyer and Casemiro could all be moved on.

I also don't think that either of them would work with the other three midfielders.

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I think the pair that has shown the most promise as well as consistency is Casemiro and Ugarte. They've developed some chemistry and it's shown in the games whenever either or both aren't in the side.

The energy they bring is another factor to consider as Mainoo and Collyer aren't as mobile as those two.

Bruno with Casemiro or Ugarte like I said, can work especially in certain games but in the long run, is not ideal.

The problem with Casemiro and Ugarte is that they are both CDMs and with Casemiro, isn't getting any younger. Many were saying that his legs were gone throughout last season before he turned a corner in the final months.

At 33 years old and getting on, he isn't going to fill anyone with much confidence that he can maintain his levels of quality for the next season as he did from February to May.

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Final Thoughts

I'm not sure what Amorim would do if this were to remain his midfield roster. He would have to find a place in the side for Bruno as he said he wants to build this project around him but the skipper doesn't work in the midfield pair as well as the manager might like, at least from what we've seen.

Mainoo and Collyer are too young and injruy prone besides and Casemiro isn't getting any younger. Ugarte is the only one who seems fit for purpose but given how he was treated towards the end of the season, he has to first make his way back into the team.

All of them have their issues.

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Ideally, I feel that Ugarte and Mainoo could tick all the boxes but as Mainoo isn't favored by Amorim and needs a lot of improvement as a no 8, I doubt that it will work, at least for now.

But who do you think out of Casemiro, Ugarte, Bruno, Mainoo and Collyer will work as Amorim's midfield pivot?

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Bruno Fernandes: Image credit: Getty Images via Goal

Manuel Ugarte: Stu Forster/Getty Images via PSG Talk

Casemiro: Image credit: Getty Images via Goal

Kobbie Mainoo: Creator: Richard Heathcote | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2025 Getty Images via Goal

Ruben Amorim is in search of new midfielders | Ruben Amorim: Creator: Emilio Andreoli | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2024 Getty Images via Man Utd News