Ineos must still bolster the key position that City‑bound Semenyo would have effortlessly elevated – opinion

After missing out on Antoine Semenyo, many Manchester United fans are now urging the club to prioritise a midfielder. Yet while attention remains fixed on whether INEOS will heed that advice, there is a danger they may overlook the very issue Semenyo was initially meant to address. Semenyo eyed as a left wing‑back It has since emerged that, had Semenyo been signed, he would not have been restricted solely to the left wing‑back role as first suggested. Nevertheless, United clearly hoped he could elevate that position. Midfield has been decent United’s midfield has not been at its absolute best. But the experience and quality of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have enabled United head coach Ruben Amorim to piece together a functioning engine room. While the midfield has remained relatively stable, the left wing‑back slot has consistently proved a major let‑down. LWB struggles Between Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu, performances in that role have been erratic and unreliable. Given the wing‑back’s importance in Amorim’s system, such instability is proving damaging. In the Portuguese tactician’s approach, wing‑backs are the driving force of the attack: they stretch play, create overloads, deliver goals and assists, and transition seamlessly from a back five to a front five. In essence, they are expected to operate as both full‑backs and wingers, meeting immense physical and technical demands. Amad Diallo is arguably the one United player to have mastered the role. Dalot, meanwhile, shows flashes of brilliance, but as the defeat to Aston Villa underlined, he remains far more effective on the right than the left. Upgrade on Dorgu United, therefore, need a genuine upgrade on Dorgu. With Manchester City-bound Semenyo off the table, INEOS must now pivot towards alternatives. Encouragingly, United have already been linked with two capable options: Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown. If the Red Devils are willing to commit the £65 million earmarked for Semenyo towards either of those full‑backs, such an investment could easily tempt decision‑makers at St James’ Park or Deutsche Bank Park. Injecting balance into the team Securing a reliable left wing‑back would inject much‑needed balance into this side, preventing United from becoming overly dependent on the right flank. A dynamic partnership between the new arrival and Matheus Cunha could be forged, akin to the dangerous Bryan Mbeumo‑Amad Diallo combination on the opposite wing. Undoubtedly, a bold and decisive signing this winter could lay the foundations for United to mount a genuine top‑four challenge. And with wing‑backs firing once Amad returns from AFCON, United might finally strike the balance between attack and defence that would spell real trouble for their rivals. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.