The squad’s depth, or lack thereof, has been a major concern after Manchester United lost at home to Leeds United on Monday night, with that 2-1 defeat exposing just how limited Michael Carrick’s ranks are.
Taking out one or two of Harry Maguire and Coby Mynou would make it all look like it would fall apart, while the use of just two substitutes highlighted Carrick’s underlying lack of trust in those around him.
Even regular starters like Amad and Matheus Cunha have been inconsistent, with the Ivorian still having just two goals and two assists in the Premier League this season, while the £62.5m Brazilian has scored just one goal in his last eight top-flight games.
All scorers since Carrick’s return | |
|---|---|
player | the goal |
Sesco | 5 |
Casemiro | 4 |
Fernandez | 3 |
Mbeumo | 3 |
Cunha | 3 |
i go to sleep | 2 |
own goal | 1 |
The Red Devils boast a direct replacement in Brian Mbeumo, but further strength looks increasingly essential ahead of the 2025-26 season, when the club could return to European action.
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After a summer that saw Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Anthony and Rasmus Hojlund leave Old Trafford, United are perhaps starting to pay the price for their lack of forward options.
Carrick’s side have won just one of their last four league games, but their last three goals have come from Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and an own goal from James Hill away at Bournemouth.
Amad hasn’t scored in 2026, Mbeumo hasn’t scored since the win over Tottenham Hotspur, and Cunha’s only goal since early February came against Aston Villa, and he currently sits behind Casemiro on the goalscoring list.
With that in mind, it may be music to the ears of United supporters to learn that Aston Villa sensation Morgan Rodgers has been joined by the likes of Jason Wilcox, as Ben Jacobs of the GIVEMESPORT newsletter writes.
Jacobs said Rodgers was at Manchester City at the same time as Wilcox and then worked under Carrick at Middlesbrough, and the 23-year-old is “one of the options” being considered by the INEOS government.
Even if they are not pushing for a move, there is said to be a “concrete possibility” of the Englishman leaving Villa Park this summer, with Jacobs believing the Midlands side could do business for £80m-plus, similar to his valuation a year ago.
Why Rodgers upgrades Cunha
As the paper points out, signing a new left winger will be a “top priority” regardless of whether Carrick stays or leaves, with Cunha currently the only option for that role following the loss of Patrick Dorg to injury.
Carrick will have to drop Manchester United star, who has fewer touches than Lamence and Sesco.
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Using Wilcox and Carrick’s connections to sign Rodgers over the line would undoubtedly be the perfect solution. The former West Bromwich Albion youngster will project Cunha as a versatile forward who can play either centrally or on the left.
Playing as a number 10 under Unai Emery, Rodgers’ ability to drift and wreak havoc down the left was particularly evident against United in December, when he breezed past Lenny Yolo before curling home twice with a brilliant curl.
With his powerful physique and natural scoring ability from distance, it’s easy to see why the Three Lions star is such an attractive target. A prominent role at this summer’s World Cup could further increase his status and reputation.
In the opinion of pundit and England legend Glenn Hoddle, he is “like a young Wayne Rooney” in his powerful movement around the pitch, his ability to keep defenders at bay and slide forward from deep.
This comparison bodes well for the impact Rodgers could have at Old Trafford, and even Rodgers’ recent slump is nothing to worry about, despite scoring just one league goal in 2026.
Cunha is certainly an upgrade in that role, as he has a total of eight goals and five assists in the top flight, with his contribution limited to just seven goals and two assists.
Rodgers’ record of 18 goals in all competitions is only surpassed by Fernandes, 26, who has returned to Manchester.
This comes after Rodgers’ breakthrough season in 2024-25, in which he scored 30 goals and provided an assist in his first full season at Villa Park, resulting in him rightfully sweeping the PFA Young Player of the Year award, the same honor that Rooney won in his first two years at United.
What also sets Rodgers apart, in addition to being an elite goalscorer, is his creative qualities, creating 10 ‘big chances’ this season and averaging 1.3 key passes per game.
For comparison, Cunha (who is likely to be a rival on that front if he joins the Red Devils) averages just 1.0 key passes per game while creating just five ‘big chances’.
It has to be said that Cunha has gone above and beyond this season, but the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man needs to be careful – there are always bigger fish out there.
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