It was onerous to not be inspired by the braveness and resilience proven by Ruben Amorim’s makeshift Manchester United staff on Friday evening. The hosts held on to safe an necessary 1-0 win towards Newcastle United.
The Magpies’ assault after assault was repelled amidst a merry-go-round of modifications to the Pink Devils’ backline, with 19-year-old Aiden Haven producing the one standout efficiency within the defensive unit and incomes the Man of the Match gong.
{The teenager}’s activity was undoubtedly made much more troublesome given the plight of the gamers forward of him, with United’s continued absence of attacking emphasis which means that they had few out-balls within the second half of that hard-fought sport.
Might Amorim’s aspect have introduced the Ghanaian’s blistering ball-running pace, which was evident within the thrilling 4-4 win over Bournemouth so lately, again onto the pitch with the pace and energy of somebody like Antoine Semenyo?
Sadly, it seems more and more seemingly that the 25-year-old will transfer elsewhere subsequent month, with INEOS and United seemingly appropriate alternate options as an alternative.
Manchester United maintain talks over various choices for Semenyo
Semenyo could possibly be set to observe go well with, with United believed to have balked at a £70m-plus transfer for the previous Bristol Metropolis participant, who signed Matheus Cunha and Brian Mbeumo from Premier League rivals in the summertime.
With the January season looming on the horizon, Previous Trafford officers seem to have reignited their curiosity final week after it was prompt {that a} launch clause in his contract may enable them to signal the in-form ahead for a charge of £65m.
Frustratingly for United and different top-flight rivals, Semenyo has reportedly chosen the Etihad as his most popular vacation spot for 2026, with Manchester Metropolis more likely to finally win the race for his signature, based on David Ornstein.
With that in thoughts, Amorim et al could also be altering their focus, with TEAMtalk reporting that the membership have “joined the hunt” for RB Leipzig sensation Yann Diomande.
Based on experiences, United have been the final member of the standard Huge Six to indicate an curiosity within the 19-year-old, with INEOS already holding talks with {the teenager}’s camp in current weeks.
The article notes {that a} transfer is more likely to happen in the summertime, though earlier hypothesis prompt he could possibly be accessible for a charge of round £87 million.
Why Diomand is “related” to Semenyo
It was as soon as once more clear on Friday evening {that a} handful of absentees may go away United, with United wanting desperately brief on the prime finish of the pitch, ending the sport with Patrick Dorg on one aspect and Diogo Dalot on the opposite as their two most ahead large choices.
With Amad and Mbeumo with out gamers to depend on, and with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho despatched off, Amorim actually wants that further spark to spark his staff within the closing third.
Even when the Pink Devils needed to wait till subsequent summer season, Semenyo, who has already scored 9 Premier League targets this season, would undoubtedly have achieved that, though younger Diomande could be the subsequent most suitable choice.
Actually, The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor notes that the 2 are “bodily related” and Diomande has “precisely the identical abilities and contact” as his senior.
The similarities can undoubtedly be seen in his scoring streak from the 2025/26 season to this point, with the Leipzig starlet at present on AFCON responsibility scoring six targets and offering two assists within the Bundesliga to date.
Like Semenyo, the £87m teen is a real two-footed expertise, with Diomande scoring 4 of his targets together with his proper and two together with his left, based on Sofascore.
The Ivorian’s most notable attribute is his fast dribbling capability, rating him within the prime 1% of wingers in Europe’s prime 5 leagues in take-ons per 90 factors and within the prime 3% in progressive carries per 90 factors, based on FBref.
Diomande – 25/26 Bundesliga statistics | |
|---|---|
State (per 90) | Diomand |
non-penalty objective | 0.61 |
help | 0.20 |
The motion that creates the shot | 4.66 |
Go accomplished | 81.3% |
progressive path | 4.05 |
progressive carry | 6.28 |
profitable take-up | 4.26 |
Progress go obtained | 7.91 |
sort out | 1.32 |
intercept | 0.71 |
Statistics by FBref | |
In addition to being an attacking outlet, Diomande additionally contributes defensively from a variety of positions, rating within the prime 3% for interceptions and within the prime 11% for tackles per 90, no marvel journalist Bence Boksak hailed him as a “generational expertise”.
For comparability, Semenyo additionally holds his personal defensively, rating within the prime 3% in blocks per 90 and aerial duels received over the previous 12 months.
It’s, in fact, the latter participant who’s at present attracting consideration within the Premier League, but when United need to discover a longer-term, high-potential substitute, Diomande may very effectively be that man.
Worse than Sesco: £105,000-a-week bloke ought to by no means play for Man United once more
Manchester United’s flaws have been additionally uncovered throughout their Boxing Day win over Newcastle United.
