Manchester United look to be on an upward trajectory under INEOS and could now submit a sizeable bid for one of the world’s best attackers in January.
Man Utd summer signings deliver again in win over Brighton
Ruben Amorim has endured his fair share of criticism since arriving at Old Trafford. However, he will now feel vindicated in his decision not to change his complex 3-4-3 system after stringing together three consecutive Premier League victories.
Brighton & Hove Albion played some fine football at times at Old Trafford on Saturday. Nevertheless, this sometimes worked to their own detriment, and the Red Devils duly capitalised on a day where Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo were unrelenting.
False dawns have been a frustration in recent years, though this time feels different. There is a togetherness that seems to have been forged after a £225 million transfer spend at the club, and Gary Neville believes Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo’s previous experience of top-flight football has helped drastically amid both making an instant impact since arriving in Manchester.
He told Sky Sports: “With Cunha and Mbeumo, the risk of those signings was removed because in the sense they had played in the Premier League before and they had the hunger to deliver at a different level.
“Mbeumo looks like he belongs. He looks hungry and that he wants to score goals. Manchester United have something to build on. Cunha and Mbeumo will win a lot of matches for Manchester United.”
While the summer arrivals take a lot of the credit, January will be just as important if Manchester United want to make a fist of continental qualification.
Amorim could raid his old club Sporting to sign Ousmane Diomande, though he may also have designs on making a headline signing at the other end of the field.
Man Utd preparing bid for Rafael Leao
According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are preparing a bid in excess of £87 million to sign Rafael Leao from AC Milan, while Liverpool and Manchester City are also lurking in the background, hoping to make their move.
Talks have been initiated with his camp, and the Serie A giants are unlikely to sell for any less than what the Red Devils are keen to put forward, and the final decision will be left with him to determine whether a transfer to the Premier League would be a smart move at this stage in his career.
Starting the campaign in fine form, Leao has scored four times in his opening five appearances across all competitions. Veteran AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric described him as a “truly fantastic” asset to the Rossoneri earlier this week, and it is easy to see why when you delve into his underlying numbers.
Fotmob shows that he has placed five of his nine shots on target in Serie A this season, providing evidence that his record in front of the target stems from acute awareness of his surroundings.
Ultimately, Leao is someone who could lift Manchester United into another dimension, though it remains to be seen whether they have the financial clarity to pull off such a move in mid-season.