Former Manchester United favourite Wayne Rooney has specified exactly the kind of player the club should pursue for their next summer acquisition, though his recommendations appear to have gone unheeded.
Rooney has called on the Old Trafford outfit to prioritise physical presence in central midfield for the upcoming campaign. His wish for a commanding figure in the middle of the park looks set to remain unfulfilled, with United submitting a £65million offer for 5ft10 midfielder Carlos Baleba. The club has enjoyed considerable success in this transfer window, strengthening their engine room significantly.
The Manchester side completed a £35million move for Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, having previously secured Andrey Santos from Chelsea in a £50million transaction. Despite these additions, the club still lacks a genuine defensive enforcer in the centre of the pitch following Casemiro’s departure on a free transfer.
United legend Rooney had made plain his view that his former club requires additional stature in the middle of the park, telling Mark Goldbridge during a discussion that their existing central midfield options are not particularly imposing physically.
Rooney stated that when considering Tielemans, Kobbie Mainoo and Santos, all three are relatively slight players without significant pace among them, suggesting United should target a player resembling Amadou Onana’s physical attributes or similar build as what the club needs in the centre of the pitch.
When questioned about the possibility of acquiring Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, a player United have been connected with during the summer, Rooney concurred that the 26-year-old would fulfil the requirement excellently, noting such a physical profile would benefit United greatly.
Currently, Mainoo represents the tallest option in United’s midfield at exactly 6 feet, with Santos measuring approximately 5ft11 and Tielemans standing at just 5ft9. However, the Old Trafford hierarchy appear satisfied with this particular physical profile for the summer, as they have renewed their pursuit of Brighton’s Baleba.
The club had been associated with a dramatic move for the 22-year-old Cameroonian last summer only to be put off by Brighton’s £100million valuation. Although a minor ankle ligament problem was thought to have halted their interest this summer, United are once again in negotiations for the player.
Sources indicate United have put forward a package worth £65million in total, though it remains uncertain whether Brighton will maintain their valuation following a season that largely disappointed.
Baleba managed zero Premier League goals or assists under Fabian Hurzeler during the 2025/26 season despite making 31 appearances overall. Nevertheless, United clearly retain belief in the young player’s world-class potential, demonstrated by their fresh proposal.
United face a constrained timeframe to finalise any transfer, with the summer window closing on September 1 and business suspended until January. Based on their activity during the most recent winter window, United are again unlikely to make significant investments in mid-season reinforcements.