One shot on target was enough for Manchester United to take a point on Saturday night, with Matheus Cunha scoring his eighth Premier League goal of the season following an assist from Bruno Fernandes.
The Brazilian, who scored 15 goals for Molineux in 2024/25, may not have been the most prolific after his £62.5m summer move, but he has put together a respectable finish.
Indeed, from his first goal at Old Trafford at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in October, to his long-range curler away to the Emirates or his powerful shot from an angle at home to Fulham, Cunha has produced many eye-catching moments.
There’s an eye-opening, game-changing quality to his play that is certainly appealing, but that said, United could be targeting something of an upgrade on their left flank this summer.
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With Patrick Dorg still sidelined, Cunha remains the only senior option on the left wing, but the 26-year-old himself has been signed to play in one of the two No. 10 spots in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.
This highlights the need for new signings for the club ahead of next season, with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rodgers also thought to be one to consider.
Looking further afield, Sportboom reports that the Red Devils are among the Premier League clubs interested in signing Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz, even after the Turkish international signed a new contract in February.
U21 Top Scorers – Five Major Leagues* | |
|---|---|
player | the goal |
Yamal | 15 |
Diomand | 12 |
path | 12 |
Bad place | 11 |
star | 10 |
croup | 10 |
Espi | 8 |
*2025/26 – League only | |
According to reports, INEOS bosses are thought to have knocked on the Serie A side’s door with a bid of around 90 million euros (about 7.8 billion yen), with the 20-year-old seen as a “top target” this summer.
However, this offer is likely to be insufficient, with the Italian giants expected to ask for more than €100m (£87m), with their prized asset almost deemed ‘unsellable’ as it stands.
United and INEOS remain options regardless, with Arsenal and Chelsea also said to be fans of the German-born superstar.
Comparison between Yildiz and Cunha this season
Although he is only 20 years old, it is clear how highly regarded Yildiz is upon his return to Turin, having captained the team during their Champions League trip to the Bernabéu earlier this season.
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Despite sticking to Real Madrid, European football writer Danny Corcoran believes the sought-after wideman boasts “(Kylian) Mbappe-like ability”, reflecting the Frenchman’s ability to almost win games on his own.
Indeed, in what has been a difficult few years for Juventus since their last Serie A title, Yildiz has been an undisputed shining light since joining from Bayern Munich’s youth ranks in 2022.
Since then, he has progressed through Juve’s youth ranks and the ‘Next Generation’ setup, and is now a key figure for both club and country, scoring 48 goals and assists in 127 games for club and five goals in 28 games for Turkey.
This season in particular, he has recorded 11 goals and 10 assists in official games, including an impressive 10 goals and 6 assists in Serie A.
For comparison, back in Manchester, Cunha scored eight Premier League goals and provided just two assists in his debut season with United, with Michael Carrick’s forwards still reliant on Fernandes to contribute creatively.
Thankfully, Yildiz will more than shoulder the load for the Portuguese prodigy in 2025/26, averaging 2.2 key passes per game while creating an astonishing 15 ‘big chances’.
To put it in context again, United’s number 10 has only created three ‘big chances’ and averaged just one key pass per game, making little impact in that aspect of the game.
As has been pointed out in comparisons with Mbappé, Yildiz’s natural ability to dribble and carry the ball is his strength, averaging 2.2 successful dribbles per game in Serie A this season.
While Cunha himself is a great ball carrier, he averages only 1.3 points at that point, further highlighting that Yildiz is already a superstar despite his young age.
United, who currently sit third in the table, have certainly improved with the current attacking options at Carrick’s disposal, but there is always room for improvement, especially ahead of next season’s Champions League season.
Should Juventus be tempted to cash in, signing Yildiz, who can also function as a number 10 or second striker, could secure INEOS the perfect upgrade for the 2026/27 season.
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