Manchester United supporters have a chance to sign a tough, combative player who is keen to join after the Ruben Neves deal looks unlikely.
On 22 January 2026, Fabrizio Romano, a journalist specializing in football transfers, revealed the latest update on Manchester United's reinforcement plans during the English Premier League winter transfer window.
Manchester United reportedly wants to strengthen their midfield first but is expected to have a limited budget for the January transfer window, making it difficult to secure Ruben Neves, the Portuguese international from Al Hilal.
Although Ruben Neves’ transfer fee is expected to be under £20 million due to his contract expiring at the end of this season, the main issue is his weekly wage of £300,000. The Daily Mail recently reported that Al Hilal is negotiating a two-year contract extension to keep him in the Saudi league.
Fabrizio Romano also revealed that Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign Wilfred Ndidi, a defensive midfielder from Besiktas. The 29-year-old player, who moved to the Turkish league this season and serves as vice-captain, wants to return to the Premier League and is willing to accept a lower salary.
Ndidi's move to Manchester United could be a six-month loan. He has extensive Premier League experience, having played 220 matches for Leicester City between 2017 and 2025, scoring 7 goals and providing 14 assists.
Recently, Wilfred Ndidi captained the Nigerian national team to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco. If Manchester United signs him for a short-term stint, he could provide much-needed energy and leadership in midfield.
