Who will Manchester United buy for the midfield in the summer transfer window? Insights into contacts with multiple players revealed, three key factors influencing the final choice.

Recently, the main focus of Manchester United's midfield recruitment has been Newcastle United's Bruno Guimarães, with the club having engaged in deep negotiations with his agent. Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Manchester United is indeed interested in Guimarães, but it is premature to say they will sign him. The same applies to Sandro Tonali, Carlos Baleba, or Elliot Anderson, among others.

It is certain that Manchester United will undertake a significant rebuild of the midfield in the summer transfer window. If they secure qualification for next season's Champions League, the budget is expected to increase further. Guimarães, as the central figure this week, has long been linked with a transfer to Manchester United. The previous rumor storyline was: Casemiro recommended Guimarães to Manchester United as his replacement.

Last Thursday, Reuters and the journalist who first reported Guimarães' move from Lyon to Newcastle claimed that Manchester United intends to sign him for a transfer fee of 80 million euros (69 million pounds), with deep discussions already taking place.

Regarding this, Romano stated it is not surprising. "There are daily rumors about Manchester United and different midfield players, which I think is normal because the Red Devils will be very busy with midfield recruitment this summer, potentially signing one or two new players. Therefore, I predict rumors about players in this position will also be frequent. Currently, Bruno (Guimarães) is one of many players they admire, and I can assure that at this stage, several candidates have the chance to become Manchester United's new signings."

Whether it's Guimarães or Tonali, Manchester United's attempt to acquire players from Newcastle will undoubtedly be difficult. The "Magpies," backed by Saudi Arabian oil money, will set high prices for players they want to sell or don't want to sell, similar to Liverpool's acquisition of Isak last summer.

Romano said: "Bruno is not only favored by Manchester United and Premier League clubs; don't forget that many European clubs, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, are also looking to sign midfield players. So, I believe he will definitely be a hot commodity in the transfer market. Also, signing top players from Newcastle has always been this difficult."

Manchester United has also contacted agents of Baleba, Tonali, and others in recent weeks, which is normal procedure. Who or which players Manchester United will ultimately sign, Romano said he doesn't know, and the club itself might not be clear yet. There are still months until summer, and many variables could occur. Most simply, as the old saying goes, 'a new ruler brings new ministers'; different coaches have different preferences for the type of midfield players they want.

"Manchester United is definitely interested in Bruno as a player; they admire him, but I must emphasize they are also interested in six or seven other players. Manchester United hasn't even decided on the type of midfielder to recruit," Romano said. "This will also depend on factors like the final head coach choice, Champions League qualification, and transfer budget. So, before Manchester United decides who to sign, many factors must be considered. Currently, it can only be said that their admiration for Bruno is obvious."

Once Manchester United secures Champions League qualification, the summer transfer plans could change significantly. In principle, Manchester United certainly wants to buy two new midfielders. If the budget allows, a versatile left winger, a left-back, a center-back, and a backup goalkeeper would also be necessary moves to strengthen the squad.

How many of these can be achieved may depend on how much money is spent on new midfield signings. Price is also a significant factor, as many midfield stars on the list are valued close to 100 million pounds.