Five midfielders Man United could sign in January to address Ruben Amorim issue, including Carlos Baleba and two La Liga stars

Manchester United failed to sign a central midfielder during the summer transfer window, with the club deciding against a late move for another player in that area after missing out on top target Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Red Devils are believed to have been in touch with Atletico Madrid on transfer deadline day to discuss a potential loan deal for Conor Gallagher, but Diego Simeone's side were only interested in a permanent exit.

Man United did bring in a new goalkeeper, with Senne Lammens arriving from Royal Antwerp, but their failure to address their midfield issues could harm them in the coming months.

Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte are currently the first-team options available to head coach Ruben Amorim, while Mason Mount has also been used in the middle, and Sekou Kone is a potential future star.

However, it is clear that Amorim wants a new signing in that area of the field, and it is not impossible to imagine the club addressing the issue during the January transfer window.

With that in mind, Sports Mole looks at five potential mid-season signings for the English giants.

Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Baleba was and still is Man United's leading target in central midfield.

The Red Devils made contact with Brighton over the summer to discuss a move, and it is understood that the 21-year-old was keen to make a switch to Old Trafford, but it became clear that a deal would be impossible over the summer.

Brighton will find it incredibly difficult to keep hold of the Cameroon international on a long-term basis, though, and the expectation is that he will leave next summer, potentially for a fee in excess of £100m.

However, a January switch is also possible, as Man United have funds in place, with the Red Devils able to clear out a number of unwanted players in the latter stages of the summer transfer window.

There will be competition for Baleba next summer, especially if he has another standout campaign for Brighton, so Man United may decide to act in January, and it would go down as one of the most eye-catching mid-season signings ever.

Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Wharton is another player coveted by a number of major clubs, with the England international proving to be a standout player for Palace since making the move to Selhurst Park from Blackburn Rovers in February 2024.

The 21-year-old made 27 appearances last season, helping his side to win the FA Cup, while he also lifted the Community Shield at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Real Madrid are said to be huge admirers of Wharton, with Palace facing a huge battle to keep hold of him, although the Eagles could receive in the region of £80m if he is sold.

It is a similar story to Baleba, with a mid-season deal very difficult, but stranger things have happened, and Man United may decide to act quickly considering the interest in his services.

Wharton's game intelligence and passing qualities would make him a huge asset for Man United, and he has the potential to star in the Red Devils and England midfield for the next decade.

Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart)

Stiller's future was the subject of speculation over the summer, with Man United said to be admirers of the 24-year-old, but he was not keen on leaving Stuttgart in a World Cup year.

Indeed, the midfielder could be an important player for Germany at next summer's tournament, and it might not be too long before he is starring at a major club considering his qualities.

Stiller has said that he is interested in moving abroad "at some point", and that could be January depending on how the season progresses for both Stuttgart and Man United.

"I'm currently not thinking about a move. Generally speaking, I'm interested in moving abroad at some point; I thought Florian Wirtz's decision to go to Liverpool was cool," he recently told reporters.

"But only one thing is certain for me: At the end of my career, I absolutely want to play in the USA, in the MLS. This is 100% my plan, my goal."

The midfielder scored four goals and registered 11 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions for Stuttgart last term, while he has already made four outings during the 2025-26 campaign.

Stiller would not cost as much as Baleba or Wharton, and he could be the ideal fit for Man United considering his ability to contribute at both ends of the field.

Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)

Fermin's future was the subject of much speculation over the summer, with Chelsea believed to have made an attempt to sign him from Barcelona in the latter stages of the transfer window.

“In the end, my priority has always been to be at Barca," Fermin told Mundo Deportivo when questioned on the transfer talk. “I arrived at 12 years old, it was my dream to be here, to reach the first team. It's always flattering that there is interest from other clubs, but the truth is I always had the idea of staying at Barca and succeeding here."

However, should Fermin struggle for starts in the first half of the campaign, there is a chance that he may be available in January, especially with regular game time needed to secure a spot in the Spain squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Man United are known admirers of the 22-year-old, who scored eight goals and registered 10 assists in 46 appearances for Barcelona during the 2024-25 campaign.

This term, Fermin has been restricted to just 73 minutes of football across two La Liga matches, and he is believed to be open to a move to the Premier League in the future.

Fermin's best work comes in the final third, so he would not be a defensive midfield option for the Red Devils, but he has the qualities required to be a success in that area of the field in the Premier League.

Mikel Jauregizar (Athletic Bilbao)

Athletic midfielder Jauregizar is believed to be on the shortlist of a number of major clubs in world football, with the 21-year-old enjoying an impressive 2024-25 campaign for his Basque outfit.

The midfielder scored three goals and registered three assists in 48 appearances for the Lions last season, including two goals and two assists in 34 outings in the top flight of Spanish football.

Athletic would resist his exit, and Jauregizar has a contract at San Mames until June 2031, but he would find it difficult to turn down the chance to make the move to the 20-time English champions if the opportunity was presented.

Jauregizar is extremely clever in possession of the ball; he is also a high-energy midfielder, and he has the perfect skillset for the Premier League, while at 21, it would be fair to say that his best years are ahead of him.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are also believed to be admirers of the Spain Under-21s international.