The transfer window has always been dynamic with a lot of moving parts, but Man Utd’s latest change is misguided.
Ineos are entering a transfer window from a position of strength for the first time since their arrival, and they’ve got a lot to do.
The midfield revamp is already underway, with Ederson likely to be the first signing of the summer, and more to follow him.
However, Man Utd have made a slight tweak to their planning, which, if not reversed, could see two players in the Man Utd squad suffer at the same time.
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Man Utd drop plans to add an attacker
Ruben Amorim got a revamped attack last summer but they didn’t truly start firing until he left and Michael Carrick was in charge.
However, a change in systems meant that Carrick had to put a few square pegs in round holes, like shifting Matheus Cunha out wide and Bryan Mbeumo playing most of his minutes as a striker.
Both of them did well, but when the No. 10 position in Amorim’s system becomes a winger under Carrick, the depth on the left looks shallow.
Therefore, United had plans to add a left-winger to the team, since that position has been handled by Cunha and a resurgent Patrick Dorgu.
As it turns out, Dorgu impressed so much that The Athletic report that the Dane is now being seen as a left winger instead of a left-back.
On the basis of this season’s evidence, that’s a natural evolution of planning. However, United are limiting their ceiling by sticking to this notion.
Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha will suffer
As it stands right now, both Cunha and Dorgu are playing some of the best football of their lives, but this is not even their peak.
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In an ideal United XI, they shouldn’t compete for the LW spot, because they are completely different types of players.
This team’s ceiling will rise when they play with each other, as Dorgu’s bombing overlaps will complement Cunha’s inside-forward style of play perfectly.
Carrick had to manage this season with unoptimised resources, and he did a great job of it, but it shouldn’t be taken as something sustainable in the long term.
United should continue to search for an attacker who can serve as Cunha’s competition, while Dorgu acts as Luke Shaw’s rival, with Harry Amass coming through the ranks.
Trying to sign a left-back on the basis of fewer than five Dorgu games at LW is jumping to conclusions. In this case, the conclusion is a wrong one.
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