Not David Affengruber, Manchester United’s January transfer priority remains Elliot Anderson or another top midfielder: Report

Amidst reports of centre-back David Affengruber being a winter priority for Manchester United, a contradicting report has claimed that midfield reinforcement remains numero uno on Rúben Amorim's to-do list ahead of January.

It was earlier reported that Affengruber will be tried to be roped in by United in January as part of a long-term project to combine the Austrian with Leny Yoro at the heart of their defence. Going forward, the Elche defender may attract more bidders, and United wanted to seal the deal before it was too late. As far as their midfield woes are concerned, Amorim was willing to use Lisandro Martínez and Casemiro as his CDMs even if Manuel Ugarte leaves, the report had said.

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Manchester United have a new midfield shortlist

However, as per the new report, the Portuguese manager has not had a change of heart about his squad needing a fresh face in the midfield and has submitted a shortlist of three for the board to consider. He wants a midfielder capable of complementing his pressing style and can offer the team some defensive stability when the ball is lost. Angelo Stiller of VfB Stuttgart, Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, and João Gomes of Wolves are the three players being tracked by United in the hope of signing in January, Caught Offside said in a report.

Casemiro's countryman João Gomes is rated as a cheaper alternative to Brighton's Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson by United. He has been under the club's radar since 2024 as the direct successor of Casemiro. Stiller, meanwhile, can effectively operate as a deep-lying playmaker. The Bayern Munich academy product is considered one of the finest ball distributors in the Bundesliga. In January 2025, Stiller extended his contract by one year, ensuring that he will stay with the Bundesliga club until June 2028.

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Former Newcastle United talent Elliot Anderson reportedly joined Forest for a sum around £35 million and has established himself as one of the most valuable young players in the Premier League. Since his arrival, the Englishman has established himself as a mainstay in the team's midfield.

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United's Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte, both midfielders, are expected to leave the club in January. The sum generated from these sales are expected to fund the arrival of a new youngster as the club continues to rebuild its squad focusing on recruitments that can serve them for a decade at least.