United's Spanish Summer Targets Set to Shock as Midfield Overhaul Looms

Manchester United's summer recruitment plans include some clandestine Spanish targets that will "absolutely raise eyebrows", The Athletic's Andy Mitten has revealed.

The Red Devils spent over £200m on fresh faces last summer in their bid to support Ruben Amorim, though the experiment ultimately proved fruitless. The Portuguese boss was shown the door in January, with Michael Carrick stepping in as caretaker.

Under Carrick's stewardship, United have collected six wins and a draw against just one defeat, propelling the club into third place above Aston Villa. That upturn in form has reignited hope of Champions League qualification, a prize that would substantially bolster the transfer kitty come summer.

The focal point of United's rebuilding effort will be midfield, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano suggesting the club could pursue two new operators in that department. The departure of Casemiro necessitates reinforcement in the engine room.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano outlined the variables that will shape United's summer business: "To understand what kind of player they want to sign, we have to wait for two factors. The first one is Champions League football. This is financial, technical, but also financial. If you play Champions League you can attract some players – but for Man United it's never been a big problem, to be honest."

Romano noted that despite lacking European football last summer, United secured the green light from both Cunha and Mbeumo. Champions League qualification, however, would meaningfully expand their financial firepower for acquisitions.

The second determining factor, Romano explained, concerns the manager's position. While Carrick has impressed, his future remains unconfirmed. "It's not something decided, not something communicated," Romano said. "It's not something they decide in February, and I think not even at the beginning of March. So we have to wait and see what happens with the manager."

Mitten, a long-standing observer of United's affairs, confirmed the club have already compiled their summer targets – some public knowledge, others firmly under wraps. "The midfield is the key one," Mitten told The Athletic's Talk of the Devils podcast. "They're looking at some of the players we've mentioned [Anderson, Wharton, Baleba], but there are others, a few in Spain that would absolutely raise eyebrows."