Mauricio Pochettino wants Manchester United to sign Juventus midfielder

Despite conducting a rebuild of their midfield in the summer, Manchester United could be pushed into signing further depth for the middle of their team by incoming head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The 54-year-old already has targets in mind to bring to the club, and the Red Devils are reportedly making signing a defender in January their No.1 priority.

After that, Pochettino could look to strike a reunion with USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, who scored three goals in the 2026 World Cup under the Argentine.

United need support in the central striker area, with Benjamin Sesko out for a period of time due to injury. Balogun could make sense.

Pochettino is also set to push to reunite with another player, according to La Gazetta dello Sport, with USA and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie wanted by the new Red Devils boss.

McKennie signed an extension to his current deal at Juventus in March, taking his contract up until 2030.

This means a ‘convincing’ offer would be necessary to allow the Italian side’s ‘strong’ position to be met.

The issue is one to keep an eye on, the publication reports, starting as early as January, given the emergency Pochettino has to resolve at Manchester United.

Signing one of his most trusted players who has proven an impeccable performer with the USMNT would be a smart move.

La Gazetta dello Sport write that a move should not be ruled out, as McKennie is Pochettino’s ‘favourite’.

It’s certainly a plausible outcome.

However, the midfield is the least of Manchester United’s long list of transfer priorities at the moment, after Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos were all signed by the club in the summer.

Weston McKennie, a player who has made 241 appearances for Juventus, could be an astute signing for the Red Devils, but the most likely outcome in January surely involves one or two defenders and an attacking reinforcement.

28-year-old McKennie is a good player, but it’s difficult to see him making the switch to Old Trafford.