Squad depth, or the shortage of it, has been the important thing concern following Manchester United‘s defeat at house to Leeds United on Monday evening, with that 2-1 loss exposing simply how restricted Michael Carrick‘s ranks really are.
Take out a chunk or two in Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo, and every part seems to crumble, whereas the usage of solely two substitutes highlighted Carrick’s potential lack of religion in these on the periphery.
Even common starters, like Amad and Matheus Cunha, have been inconsistent, the Ivorian nonetheless caught on simply two targets and two assists within the Premier League this season, whereas the £62.5m Brazilian has scored simply as soon as in his final eight top-flight video games.
|
All scorers since Carrick returned |
|
|---|---|
|
Participant |
Objectives |
|
Sesko |
5 |
|
Casemiro |
4 |
|
Fernandes |
3 |
|
Mbeumo |
3 |
|
Cunha |
3 |
|
Dorgu |
2 |
|
Personal purpose |
1 |
The Pink Devils do boast a direct substitute within the type of Bryan Mbeumo, though forward of a 2025/26 marketing campaign that would see the membership return to European motion, additional firepower is wanting more and more important.
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After a summer season that noticed Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund all depart Outdated Trafford, United are maybe starting to pay the value for the shortage of choices in that ahead line.
Carrick’s aspect have now gained simply considered one of their final 4 league video games, whereas their final three targets have come courtesy of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and a James Hill personal purpose away at Bournemouth.
Amad hasn’t scored in 2026, Mbeumo hasn’t scored because the win over Tottenham Hotspur, and Cunha’s solely purpose since early February got here in opposition to Aston Villa, now even behind Casemiro within the scoring charts.
With that in thoughts, it could be music to the ears of United supporters to be taught that, as per Ben Jacobs – writing within the GIVEMESPORT e-newsletter – Jason Wilcox and co are within the combine for Aston Villa sensation, Morgan Rogers.
In line with Jacobs, the 23-year-old is ‘one possibility’ being thought-about by the INEOS regime, with Rogers having been at Manchester Metropolis concurrently Wilcox, whereas subsequently working below Carrick at Middlesbrough.
There’s mentioned to be a ‘concrete risk’ that the Englishman leaves Villa Park this summer season, even when he isn’t pushing for a transfer, with Jacobs believing that the Midlands aspect might do enterprise for a payment of £80m plus, as was his valuation a 12 months in the past.
Why Rogers could be an improve on Cunha
Because the report notes, no matter whether or not Carrick stays or goes, a brand new left-winger is about to be a ‘excessive precedence’, with Cunha the one present possibility in that position, following the lack of Patrick Dorgu to harm.
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Utilising Wilcox – and Carrick’s – connections to get a deal over the road for Rogers would certainly be an ideal resolution, with the one-time West Bromwich Albion teen mirroring Cunha as a flexible ahead who can function centrally or off the left.
Performing as a roaming quantity ten below Unai Emery, Rogers’ means to float and trigger havoc off the left was notably seen in opposition to United again in December, having twice curled house in gorgeous vogue after breezing previous Leny Yoro.
Along with his highly effective body and innate scoring prowess from vary, it is simple to see why the Three Lions star is such a sexy goal, with a distinguished position at this summer season’s World Cup solely prone to increase his standing and valuation.
Within the view of pundit and England legend, Glenn Hoddle, the best way he powers across the pitch is nearly “like a Wayne Rooney” in his youthful days, such is his means to carry off defenders and glide ahead from deep.
That comparability bodes nicely for the influence he may make at Outdated Trafford, with even Rogers’ latest dip not precisely trigger for concern, regardless of scoring only one league purpose in 2026.
His tally of eight targets and 5 assists within the top-flight in whole nonetheless ensures he would characterize an improve on Cunha in that position, with the latter man contributing simply seven targets and two assists.
Rogers’ tally of 18 purpose involvements in all competitions can also be solely bettered by Fernandes (26) again in Manchester.
This has come after a breakthrough 2024/25 marketing campaign that noticed Rogers register 30 targets and assists in his first full season at Villa Park, rightly swooping the PFA Younger Participant of the 12 months award in consequence – the identical accolade Rooney gained in his first two years at United.
What additionally units Rogers aside is his inventive high quality, alongside being an elite goalscorer, having created ten ‘huge probabilities’ and averaged 1.3 key passes per sport this season.
For comparability, Cunha – prone to be his rival on that aspect, if he had been to affix the Pink Devils – has created solely 5 ‘huge probabilities’, whereas averaging simply 1.0 key passes per sport.
Cunha, it have to be mentioned, has greater than had his moments this season, however the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man must be careful – there’s at all times an even bigger fish.
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