Manchester United’s Midfield Reinforcements: Transfer Plans and Prospects

After a significant investment in the summer transfer window to revamp their squad following a lackluster 2024-25 season—where the Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League without securing any trophies—manager Amorim is now focused on reinforcing the team’s midfield.

The Portuguese coach expressed interest in acquiring Brighton’s midfield talent, Carlos Baleba, towards the end of the previous transfer window, but a deal did not come to fruition. Reports suggest that the club has compiled a six-man shortlist for midfield acquisitions, which includes players such as Stiller and Adam Wharton.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano (via GiveMeSport), United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, has long been an admirer of Stiller, having closely followed his performances for some time. Wilcox is a key advocate for pursuing the German midfielder. While United had been linked with Stiller during the summer, they did not initiate a formal offer to Stuttgart.

The report further indicates that Stuttgart is likely to activate Stiller’s €2 million release clause, which is valid until 2028. Subsequently, the Bundesliga club is expected to demand a fee in the range of €50 million to €60 million (£44 million to £53 million).

However, it appears that any potential transfer will not occur in the upcoming January window, as United may be reluctant to invest such a substantial amount shortly after their summer expenditures. Thus, any move for Stiller may be postponed until next summer.

In addition, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has also been linked to a move to Old Trafford. Nevertheless, the England international has recently downplayed these transfer rumors, stating to The Athletic: “I don’t really look into it or think too much about it. There are always rumors floating about on social media. Is it true? Is it not? You tell me. My friends, my family, everyone will message me asking, ‘Is it true this club’s interested?’ I appreciate the heads-up, but I often have no prior knowledge.”

He further explained, “I see it and I’m like, ‘OK’, and then I carry on with my day. Big clubs like United are linked to 10 or 20 different players. If I’m among that group, it doesn’t feel special, so it doesn’t mean much. I discuss plans and possibilities with my agent, but ultimately it hinges on who is genuinely interested and willing to pursue a deal. If that situation arises, we can discuss it further, but I focus on proving my worth on the field.”

Previously, AS reported that Real Madrid is considering a move for the German international as they continue their search for quality midfield options following the departures of Toni Kroos—who retired in 2024—and Luka Modric, who left for AC Milan as a free agent during the summer. However, Madrid has not yet made a formal approach to Stuttgart for Stiller.