Wilcox trying to signal £50m “monster” for Man Utd

Manchester United have come to such a go that the primary few post-Fergie years might be recalled as if the halcyon days.

Final season, Erik ten Hag was dismissed on the finish of October following a wretched begin to the season, profitable solely three of their opening 9 Premier League fixtures; nevertheless, the worst was but to come back.

Ruben Amorim has been put by way of the wringer since packing his luggage at Sporting Lisbon, the place he had mined such riches, established the Leões as Portugal’s defining present aspect, however has since struggled to get a tune from his Crimson Devils aspect, who languished to a Fifteenth-place end within the league and misplaced the Europa League ultimate to Tottenham.

It is no shock the supervisor, looking for to make use of an aggressive high-pressing system, needed to remain in his homeland till the tip of the 2024/25 season, however was knowledgeable by INEOS it was “now or by no means“.

All very doom and gloom, yada yada yada. Nonetheless, Man United are huge and shall be trying to flip a nook over the approaching months as they put together for a clear slate.

Certainly, that well-known Outdated Trafford pull stays intact and, furthermore, a brand new technique has been long-established to raised the probabilities of a revival.

Man Utd’s new switch technique

It is telling that Matheus Cunha, probably the most harmful forwards within the Premier League final season, barricaded himself away from the curiosity of Arsenal and of Aston Villa. He shielded himself from the temptation of a bumper paycheck within the Saudi Professional League. And why?

Man United got here calling, in fact, activating Cunha’s £62.5m launch clause. Amorim has a brand new star man to tinker with subsequent time period, one hailed for his “completely sensational” soccer IQ by Micah Richards on Match of the Day final season, the pundit persevering with to name him the “finest at every part” at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

And that is not all. Bryan Mbeumo might be becoming a member of the brand new United challenge, having knowledgeable Champions League-qualified sides like Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham of his choice to maneuver from Brentford to the Theatre of Goals this summer time.

The 25-year-old scored 20 targets throughout 38 league video games final yr and has already been the topic of a failed bid from United, although they’ll proceed to push for the ahead, who’s rated in extra of £60m.

Nonetheless, Spurs will too, and having appointed Thomas Frank to switch Ange Postecoglou, the narrative has modified considerably: he is giving the Londoners his consideration.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his band of fits will stay calm and assured, however a back-up plan would not go amiss.

Man United line up Mbeumo various

As per ESPN, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has been shortlisted by Jason Wilcox as a dreamy various to Mbeumo, having been on the membership’s radar for a couple of months at this stage.

United’s Chief Government Officer, Omar Berrada, is set to not pay past an affordable value level for Brentford’s talisman, thus suggesting Semenyo, 25, might be an fascinating fallback, given he is accessible for barely much less at £50m. Tottenham have additionally been credited as admirers.

Man United may be prioritising the signing of Mbeumo, however in Semenyo, they could truly discover a good higher match for Amorim’s system.

Why Antoine Semenyo might be excellent for Amorim

Bournemouth signed Semenyo from Championship aspect Bristol Metropolis for £10.5m in January 2023, they usually have not regarded again.

The appointment of Andoni Iraola has been the making of him, having notched 19 targets and 9 assists throughout the previous two Premier League seasons, together with 17 direct contributions from 34 matches throughout the latest marketing campaign.

Not only a potent menace, Semenyo may rival Mbeumo in underlying qualities, maybe with fleeter ft and a steelier ball-carrying recreation, which can effectively result in him being the higher decide for Amorim’s challenge, enjoying on the precise aspect of a centre-forward who has but to be welcomed to the fold.

That’s to say, Semenyo isn’t just a pushed striker at objective but in addition a dedicated defensive power, rating among the many prime 3% of positional friends within the Premier League final yr for blocks, the highest 23% for clearances and the highest 8% for aerial duels received per 90, as per FBref.

He additionally averaged 6.1 profitable duels per recreation, as per Sofascore, whereas Mbeumo, one other combative ahead, received 4.7 per match. It is because of this, then, that Semenyo has been declared a “duel monster” and a “workhorse off the ball” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Make no mistake, at instances throughout the previous yr, Mbeumo has merely been “unplayable” within the ultimate third, as was marvelled by Frank following a 4-2 win over Newcastle.

However Semenyo is quicker, extra bodily and, maybe, a extra dynamic attacking menace given his propensity to succeed throughout a variety of attacking positions.

In the end, both signing would illustrate properly Man United’s refined switch technique, securing the signatures of Premier League-proven gamers.

Objectives have been briefly provide final yr, Amorim’s frontline at instances an image of an arid desert: dry, remoted and exhibiting solely a mirage of newfound attacking inspiration, earlier than lapsing again into previous methods.

However Semenyo would change that, partnering Cunha within the supervisor’s three-forked offensive line. His strong athleticism, eagerness to fireside constant pictures off, and certainly his defensive work charge align with Amorim’s tactical rules, with that latter aspect positive to be instrumental in getting the infamous three-man backline up and operating.

“Elegant, sleek and highly effective,” as Jamie Redknapp says, this ahead’s obtained the lot, and is simply going to get higher over the approaching years.