Man United first January transfer can finally be completed as replacement ‘offered’ to rival
Douglas Luiz’s future at Nottingham Forest could make him available for Manchester United this window after reports suggest he has been offered to Aston Villa
13:34, 22 Jan 2026Updated 13:37, 22 Jan 2026
Michael Carrick is waiting for Manchester United to sign their first player this January(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Manchester United are searching the transfer market for a new midfielder this January, hoping to find a hidden gem at the right price to bolster Michael Carrick’s team. The problem is, some of their rivals are in the same market.
United currently have three first-team central midfielders for two spots in Carrick’s team. Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro are likely to be the first-choice for the final 16 games of the season, with Manuel Ugarte also available. The Uruguay international has been linked with a late move to Ajax on loan after struggling for regular minutes.
Should Ugarte leave, a midfielder will have to be signed, no matter what. But even without the temporary exit, United could do with another face in the middle of the park for the rest of the season.
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The list of central midfielders linked with a move to Old Trafford is growing by the day. In the last seven days, Angelo Stiller, Joao Gomes, Noah Sadiki, Ruben Neves, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Wilfred Ndidi and Marc Casado have all been mentioned as targets.
It’s understood that United will only move in the window if the right player becomes available or if one of their long-term targets is pursued by a rival. Loftus-Cheek, Neves and Ndidi are all available at a cut-price fee this month. Moves for Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton or Elliot Anderson aren’t expected to come until the end of the season.
One of United’s problems is that Aston Villa are desperate for a new midfielder to replace Boubacar Kamara. The French player is set to miss a significant part of the season with a knee injury, and Unai Emery’s men are considering their options for the final two weeks of the window.
Loftus-Cheek has been offered to Villa, but the Daily Mail have reported that AC Milan are reluctant to let the 29-year-old leave on loan. The other option is Douglas Luiz, who spent five years at Villa Park before leaving for Juventus.
Douglas Luiz has struggled for consistency at Nottingham Forest this season(Image: Getty Images)
The Brazilian is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, but the Midlands outfit isn’t keen on signing him permanently. Should Luiz make 15 appearances of at least 45 minutes each, the 27-year-old will sign for them permanently for £23m. Currently, he has managed just 10 games of 45 minutes or more.
Luiz was one of the midfielders United was linked with last summer under Ruben Amorim. At the time, the club were considering a move for him when his future at Juventus was unclear. Corriere dello Sport claimed that United first registered their interest in the Brazil international at the start of 2025.
United’s need for a holding midfielder and the availability of players currently affordable would make Luiz a brilliant piece of business. With Premier League experience and the ability to control play from deep, he could be a player United finally get their hands on after over a year of scouting.
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