After Ruben Amorim was sacked as Manchester United manager in January, many could have been forgiven for thinking the club would be entering another period of uncertainty.
INEOS acted quickly to avoid further embarrassment and appointed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the 2025/26 season.
The 44-year-old brought stability and impressive results to Old Trafford during his four months in charge, losing just two of his 17 Premier League games since then.
As a result, he was given a permanent two-year contract with Manchester, giving him the opportunity to build on his impressive temporary tenure.
He has already taken part in the recruitment drive for the board’s summer slot and has seen a number of Europe’s leading stars emerge.
Manchester United to sign star player for £86m this summer
United are said to be interested in a number of attacking talents ahead of the summer as they aim for Premier League glory in the near future.
AC Milan star Rafael Leao has emerged as a potential addition, especially after the Portugal international announced he would like to leave the club ahead of the 2026/27 season.
A transfer fee of close to £40m has been mooted for the 26-year-old this summer, and the player himself is said to be open to a move to Old Trafford in the next window.
He is not the only high-profile attacking player in the division at the moment, with RB Leipzig winger Yann Diomande also being considered by recruitment teams.
According to Sky Sports, United are monitoring the Ivory Coast international’s progress in the lead-up to the summer season and are looking at potentially making an offer for the attacker.
The report claims that Liverpool and Chelsea are also keeping an eye on the 19-year-old’s development, while the German side are also keen to keep the youngster around beyond the summer.
A figure of around £86 million has been mooted to secure the forward’s move, and he could be open to a move to the Premier League if the right offer is received.
Why Diomande is better than Mbemo for United
Ahead of the recent Premier League campaign, with Rasmus Hjølund and Anthony struggling in the final third, United bosses realized they needed radical reinforcements.
Last summer, INEOS spent more than £200m on new attacking reinforcements, with Brian Mbeumo among the additions to strengthen the Red Devils’ front line.
The Cameroon international was reportedly paid £71 million by fellow Premier League side Brentford after scoring 20 league goals during the 2024/25 season.
In his first season at Old Trafford, he scored 11 goals in the English top flight, and then finished the season as the club’s all-time leading scorer alongside Benjamin Sesco.
Manchester United’s 2025/26 PL top scorer | |
|---|---|
player | the goal |
Brian Mbeumo | 11 |
Benjamin Sesco | 11 |
Matheus Cunha | 10 |
Bruno Fernandes | 9 |
Casemiro | 9 |
patrick dorug | 4 |
However, he may struggle to maintain a starting role on the right side of Carrick’s attack, especially if Leipzig and Diomande’s contract are agreed.
This season was the Ivorian’s first in one of Europe’s top five leagues, but he managed to turn heads and subsequently outperform Mbeumo in countless key areas.
Described by one analyst as “one of the best wingers”, Diomande scored more goals than the Cameroonian and also provided more goals for his teammates.
The aforementioned results demonstrate his all-round quality in attacking areas and United’s title ambitions would be further strengthened if they were able to secure his contract.
The Leipzig star has managed to record three times as many successful dribbles per 90 this term, with his 4.3 dribbles per 90 the best of any player in the Bundesliga. As evidence of that, it’s no surprise to note that recruiting and performance analyst Marcus Bulling called him a “one-on-one monster.”
Diomande’s positive personality could be a huge asset to Carrick’s side and the youngster has the opportunity to develop further under the manager’s guidance.
His superiority over Mbeumo is further reflected in his improved chance creation rate and higher possession per 90 points scored in the final third, numbers that make him a great all-round product.
£86 million is a big gamble for a player with just one year’s experience in Europe’s top division, but Diomande has already shown he is capable of overcoming the situation.
At just 19 years old, Carrick could play a huge role in his potential development at Old Trafford, so it’s a scary prospect to think how well he could do in the coming years.
Replacing Mbeumo with an Ivorian player may be a bit controversial, but it could move the Red Devils even closer to a potential title race.
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