Manchester United are accelerating their summer transfer plans after a return to Champions League football was confirmed last weekend.
Strength in Depth
The Red Devils secured a guaranteed top-five finish with the pulsating 3-2 win over bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.
This was the brief INEOS handed interim boss Michael Carrick when he took the reins from Ruben Amorim in January. The 44-year-old coach has delivered it with ease, guiding his side to third place with the best run of form in the Premier League during his tenure.
Along the way, United have put every member of England’s ‘big six’ to the sword, with victories over Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. A well-placed source reveals they would be “astounded” if the former midfielder was not given the job on a permanent basis once the season has run its course.
But movements are already underway to strengthen the squad, irrespective of who is in the dugout, though Carrick and his coaching staff are understood to have been consulted over potential incomings and outgoings. One key consideration is depth, given the limited schedule of no European football and early cup exits this season has allowed players like Luke Shaw and Casemiro to virtually play every league game.
With the workload set to increase next season, alternatives—or in the case of the Brazilian midfielder, a replacement—will be needed to avoid burnout on the pitch.
Touchline Terror
While many had predicted United would target a left-winger this summer to provide a complement to Matheus Cunha, the emergence of Patrick Dorgu as a rampaging wideman has seen attention fall further back. The 21-year-old Dane would have served as an understudy to Shaw, but instead, a new left-back has become a top priority to allow him to remain higher up the pitch.
Football Insider reveals West Ham breakout star El Hadji Malick Diouf is seen as the “perfect profile” by Old Trafford executives. The 21-year-old flying full-back “ticks a lot of boxes” due to his “attacking prowess”, with the club “keen to add an athletic, exciting player” on that side of the pitch.
“The 21-year-old is seen as a player who is only going to get better as he builds his career in the Premier League, and sources say that is another major reason behind United’s interest.” The Senegal international, who thrived for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, has registered five assists in an impressive debut season at the London Stadium, putting a number of top clubs on red alert.
His crosses into the box are already as good as any other full-back in the league and offer a tantalising prospect for Benjamin Sesko.
The Hammers paid £19 million to secure the 6’0 juggernaut last summer from Czech champions Slavia Prague, where he played a pivotal role in their title win. It would require a much higher fee to prise him away from east London.
However, West Ham are currently embroiled in a dogfight for relegation with local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, one they look set to lose. If Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are unable to avoid the drop, their negotiating position for their best players will crumble.
United are also understood to have held talks to sign midfield maestro Mateus Fernandes, setting up the prospect of a blockbuster double raid for the two teammates were West Ham to be relegated.
Final Thoughts
Diouf is undoubtedly an exciting prospect, with a potent pairing of speed, size and strength that makes him perfectly suited to Premier League football. The fact that he combines these physical qualities with a wicked delivery only adds to his intrigue.
However, the Dakar native is poor defensively, often switching off and allowing opposition forwards to run inside or behind him. Despite his size, he is not particularly strong in the air, nor is his positioning near the level needed at the Theatre of Dreams.
United would be better served redeploying Dorgu as a flying full-back while targeting a more natural winger on the left, as the two 21-year-olds possess strikingly similar profiles.
Featured image Warren Little via Getty Images
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