Manchester United are preparing for a major overhaul of their midfield ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

It was confirmed in January that Casemiro will depart the club at the end of the summer, bringing his four-year stay at Old Trafford to an end.

Manuel Ugarte could also depart United this summer, with the Uruguayan midfielder said to be frustrated over a lack of game time. Ugarte has played only 791 minutes of Premier League football this season, the equivalent of just 8.7 full 90s.

United have identified Elliot Anderson as their first choice midfield target, but the Reds will face strong competition from local rivals Manchester City for his signature.

Sandro Tonali is also said to be high on United's shortlist, while United are said to still be following Carlos Baleba closely after exploring a deal to sign him last summer. 

James Garner left United in 2022 for Everton after having spent the two previous seasons on loan at Nottingham Forest. The Carrington Academy Graduate has become a vital part of David Moyes' Everton side this season, having started all 31 Premier League games for the Toffees so far this campaign.

Garner also made his England debut against Uruguay during the most recent international break, leading some to believe he could be a fantastic player under Michael Carrick if the latter is appointed full-time head coach.

Following Garner's rise, former United player Nicky Butt has urged the club to bring the midfielder back to Old Trafford.

"I don’t see why he [Garner] couldn’t be back at United. He’s performing well, he’s playing for a big club with a big expectation with their crowd," Butt explained.

"Obviously they’re not expected to go and win the Premier League but they’re expected to win and they’ve got passionate support.

“So he plays under pressure every week, he knows Man United and yeah, he’s doing amazingly well now. He’s got to do it again next season, it’s a bit soon to go and pay big money for him now, but I’m confident he can go and do it.”

The chances of signing Garner appear to be slim, however, given that he recently signed a new deal at Everton, which will keep him on Merseyside until June 2030.

At a club of the size of Manchester United, the pressure to win is immense. Managers aren't granted much time and therefore often opt to bring in more experienced players instead of giving time to younger players to develop.

Over the last decade, United's recruitment has been poor, with only a handful of decent signings. By giving younger players more of a chance, United could have saved a substantial amount of money.

United sold James Garner for a mere £9 million, only to sign Manuel Ugarte two years later for over four times that amount. Ugarte has never really been able to assert himself in a United shirt and will likely leave the club this summer.

Alvaro Carreras is another player who comes to mind. Despite an impressive loan spell at Preston North End, he was never given a fair chance.

He then went on to enjoy a brilliant year-and-a-half at Benfica, before making the move to Real Madrid last summer. A new attacking left-back is on United's current recruitment agenda, a profile that Carreras fits.

Anthony Elanga is another player that United sold too early. He left the club in the summer of 2023 for a fee of around £15 million.

He then went on to enjoy two very good seasons at Nottingham Forest, before moving to Newcastle United last summer for £55 million. He may not have been good enough to have a long-term future at United, but it is very clear that United sold him too early.

United simply have to be more careful when deciding on the futures of their academy players.