Manchester United are looking to add a third midfielder to their ranks after signing Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
Manchester United will return to playing Champions League football next season, having finished third in the Premier League last term. This is brilliant news for the club but, as it stands, United are not prepared.
Kobbie Mainoo was the only recognised defensive midfielder at the club just a few days ago, with Manuel Ugarte likely to be out injured for the majority of the season. And while that is not the case anymore, United still need a third midfield signing.
Andrey Santos moved to Manchester United for £48 million, with another £2 million in add-ons. Chelsea fans seem to be disappointed to lose the 22-year-old, which is always a good sign for the new club.
Youri Tielemas has also signed for United. He joins Michael Carrick's side for just £35 million due to a release clause in his Aston Villa contract. The 29-year-old was announced on the same day as Karl Darlow - a backup goalkeeper who left Leeds United at the end of last season.
Reports have said that United are hoping to add another midfielder to their squad before the end of the transfer window, and Ben Jacobs has now provided more information on the matter.
United's midfield shortlist
Speaking on The United Stand, Ben Jacobs revealed that Manchester United still have several names on their midfield shortlist. He also said Eduardo Camavinga could be an option.
"There are several names on the list," he said. "One is still Alex Scott, another one is [Manu] Kone.
"[The] Camavinga links also have some substance to them; Real [Madrid] are going to need a sale if they're to go big in the market."
United were previously linked with Camavinga's teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni, but he signed a new contract to remain with Jose Mourinho's side for the manager's return to the Spanish giants.
When asked further about Kone, Jacobs said: "The Kone situation is they've [Manchester United] enquired about him on the player's side, and they like him.
"The player would be open to a move, but we have to wait and see what happens at a club-to-club sense because we're not there yet."
He was also asked to expand on Alex Scott, he said: "Nothing could develop with Scott now until Scott and Bournemouth speak further.
"If Scott makes it clear that he's not going to sign a new deal, maybe that opens the door up.
"That conversation will be late this week or early next week. Bournemouth value him at £80m."
Is Carlos Baleba still an option for Man Utd?
Last summer, Carlos Baleba appeared to be the favourite midfielder to join Manchester United, but with the Senne Lammens and Benjamin Śeško transfers not yet completed, United moved away from the Cameroon international.
"Yes, but it's about price," Jacobs told The United Stand when asked if Baleba was still an option. "We're in an inflated market, where Brighton will be looking at all these other midfielders on the move and saying Carlos Baleba can have a high valuation, too.
"Manchester United were prepared to pay £70m last summer; Brighton never named a price."
With United saving on Santos and Tielemans, they could be encouraged to spend more on a third central midfielder, given they seemed willing to pay £80 million for Mateus Fernandes before he chose Tottenham Hotspur.
