Man Utd 'ready to break transfer record' as INEOS draw up three-man shortlist

Manchester United are reportedly ready to break their club transfer record to land one of Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton or Elliot Anderson next summer. The Red Devils are set to enter the transfer market once again as they attempt to rediscover their glory years.

United have been prolific in the transfer market in recent years, with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko arriving at Old Trafford in the summer. And the trio have helped their side return to form after an underwhelming start to the season, with the Red Devils climbing to seventh in the Premier League table on Sunday following a win at Crystal Palace.

According to talkSPORT, United are planning a major overhaul in their midfield next summer. And they are willing to stump up a club record transfer fee to acquire their chosen midfield target.

Baleba, 21, has excelled in the Premier League since joining Brighton from Lille in August 2023.

Wharton, who is also 21, has made a name for himself at Crystal Palace after the Eagles prised him away from Blackburn at the start of 2024. And 23-year-old Anderson has established himself as one of the best midfielders in England since swapping Newcastle for Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2024.

United's current record transfer fee stands at £89.3million, with the Red Devils shelling out the eye-watering amount to take Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford in 2016 following his departure on a free transfer to Juventus four years earlier. And all three of their midfield targets could command north of that figure next year.

The arrival of a new midfielder could also result in Manuel Ugarte moving on. The Uruguay international only joined the Red Devils last summer but has failed to nail down a regular starting place under Ruben Amorim and has started just two Premier League matches this season.

United will be confident that they have finally turned a corner under Amorim, 13 months after the Portuguese coach succeeded Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout.

Amorim's first season at the helm resulted in a 15th-place Premier League finish for the team and a run to the Europa League final, where they lost to Tottenham.

The 13-time Premier League champions then endured a nightmare start to the current campaign as they lost three of their opening six league matches, while exiting the Carabao Cup in August after suffering a humiliating defeat against League Two side Grimsby.

But United have now lost just once in their last seven league matches and will be aiming to break into the top four over the busy festive period.