In the past 72 hours, British media have simultaneously posted that Man United is "considering" Marco Verratti as an option to add a midfield in the 2026 winter transfer window, emphasizing that the Italian midfielder is ready to leave Qatar to return to Europe if there is a suitable offer. Verratti is currently on the payroll of Al-Duhail (Qatar) and this deal is described as "surprising but not impossible".
At the same time, the story of Marc Guehi heated up after the central defender's contract with Liverpool collapsed on the last day of the transfer market. Many major newspapers have described Guehi as quite regretful but still respectful of his home team. However, the English star may not renew with Crystal Palace. With a contract that only runs until the summer of 2026, Guehi is seen as a financially feasible target if Palace decide to sell him in January 2026.
Marco Verratti's class is not controversial. He stands out in coordinating the ball and controlling the tempo of the match. At the age of 32, the EURO 2020 champion can still provide the ability to coordinate and control the tempo in midfield. If Man United feel the need for a " air conditioner" to reduce the burden on Casemiro or Bruno Fernandes, Verratti will bring immediate value.
However, there are three major barriers to this deal. The first is finance when Verratti benefits very well in Qatar. To bring him to Old Trafford, Man United had to spend a large sum of money on salary, which affected the salary fund and payment structure.
Secondly, physical when Verratti is not outstanding in his ability to press at high intensity or cover the move, which the Premier League requires very harshly.
Third is the short-term nature of opting for a high-paid contract for a 32-year-old player. This goes against the long-term strategy of the team's leadership. Therefore, Verratti is truly a speedy solution but comes with strategic and financial risks.
Unlike Verratti, Guehi represents a long-term goal of investment. He is only 25 years old and has affirmed his quality in the Premier League. Guehi's contract with Palace is only valid for 1 year, a factor that could force the "Gunners" to release players or lose all players in the summer of 2026. Before that, Guehi was very close to Liverpool but this did not rule out the possibility that other big teams would jump into the race to sign the English star.
Marc Guehi is a good reflexsive centre-back, playing with a relatively sturdy foot and suitable for the build-up play from the back. These are qualities that both Man United and the Big Six need if they want to stabilize their defensive system. Notably, the midfielder born in 2000 is familiar with the 3-center-back formation, especially the left-sided position, which is unstable in Man United's defense.
In terms of price, if Palace accept to sell in January to avoid losing everything next year, the figure will be more favorable than other expensive centre-back targets. Therefore, Guehi is in the feasible target group for many teams.
If Man United really target Verratti, it is a signal that the club wants to control the midfield more, reduce the "blasting" and increase the ball retention rate. However, Ruben Amorim had to accept the adjustment of continuously reducing high pressing and finding people to compensate for speed and energy on both edges. For Guehi, his direct impact is upgrading his mentality and defensive techniques. The Palace star is a young, consistent centre-back who can help reduce pressure on the midfield, allowing midfielders to play more adventurously.
Winter is often not an easy time to make expensive "bomb jobs", especially for high-paid players from the Middle East. Transfer experts still consider Marc Guehi an actual solution but are sought after by many teams. Meanwhile, Marco Verratti is a case that requires skillful negotiations, Man United can wait until the summer of 2026 to negotiate or propose a special loan.
