Sunday’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur marked Manchester United’s 12th loss in the Premier League this term, the most the club have suffered at this stage of the competition since the 1973-74 season, in which they got relegated.
Big name stars like Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana keep underperforming while the composition of the team just does not suit Ruben Amorim’s style.
The biggest example is out wide where Diogo Dalot has struggled on whichever flank he has been played in. Amorim’s system utilises wingbacks to provide width and attacking thrust.
The Portugal international neither hugs the touchline, nor is aggressive going forward and it is clear to see that the head coach needs a better option.
Quality out wide needed
January signing Patrick Dorgu was played on the left against Spurs and there is talk of a summer approach for Amorim’s former Sporting CP protege Geovany Quenda.
And a surprising name is also on the club’s radar — Joao Cancelo, a player United fans know well from his time in Manchester City.
The 30-year-old has two goals and 10 assists for Al-Hilal this season and as per journalist Steve Kay, the former Barcelona star is open to the prospect of moving to City’s cross-town rivals owing to his dislike for the way his former club treated him.
And the United hierarchy have informed Amorim that a deal is possible should he greenlight the move.
“This is one that came to my attention this morning. This was mentioned to someone I’m very close with during the post-match press conference alongside other journalists at Tottenham on Sunday,” Kay said on his YouTube channel – KS1 TV (via Mancity News).
“Manchester United have made Amorim aware there’s a chance Cancelo could come to United, and they’ve basically left it in the hands of the manager.
Cancelo is a realistic target
“As soon as I heard that I started putting together the links, where did the source come from, he’s Portuguese, the manager, but then it’s Man City, but he left on bad terms. All of a sudden things started slipping into place. Yes, I have to trust my sources, there’s a possibility, there is a chance. I would say about £30m I would have thought.
“My thing was, would he go after being at City to United? But I’ve spoken to a few people today about it and Cancelo has that temperament where he doesn’t give a damn, he won’t give a damn about that, he doesn’t like the hierarchy at City.”
Cancelo would certainly cost less than Quenda and he also has tons of Premier League experience. The Portuguese star can be the perfect backup for Quenda and his winning mentality would be a huge asset to have in the dressing room.
But INEOS have refrained from going after players over 27 in their short reign so far and so it remains to be seen if this deal pans out.
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
