Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones has urged the club to sign a midfield ‘destroyer’ in the summer transfer window.

United made it a priority to overhaul their misfiring attack ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko all arriving through the doors for a combined fee of around £200million.

The Red Devils had also been working to capture a combative midfielder to fit Ruben Amorim’s much-maligned 3-4-3 system, identifying Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba as potential targets.

Brighton have since confirmed United’s interest in Baleba on the back of the Cameroon international’s exceptional season with the Seagulls last term.

However, according to Brighton CEO Tony Bloom, United simply ‘went away’ when they outlined that Baleba would not be sold unless an astronomical fee was offered for the sought-after 22-year-old

It meant Amorim entered his first full season with the same midfield options he inherited from Erik ten Hag, with the Portuguese tending to favour a pivot of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.

Since taking over the reins, Michael Carrick has restored Kobbie Mainoo to the side alongside Casemiro, while Fernandes has been playing in a far...