Manchester UnitedHis work in the transfer market over the last few years has been questionable to say the least, wasting truckloads of money on players, not at the required level.
Former boss Erik ten Haag was responsible for a decline of around £600m during his tenure as manager, investing in various areas of the pitch – but ultimately to no avail, as evidenced by his 13th-placed Premier League.
The likes of Casemiro, Antony and Joshua Zirkzee all joined under the Dutchman, with the aforementioned trio it alone costs almost £200mand they are all expected to leave Old Trafford soon.
New boss Reuben Amorim will have limited resources to work with in January as a result of the current cost-cutting operation up the hierarchy, often having to rely on selling first-team members before bringing in new ones.
But despite the financial situation, the club has already identified one star as a potential winter signing, who provides the necessary quality in one particular area.
Man Utd are planning a move for the former PL star
According to Italian publication TuttoJuve, United are one of several struggling English sides to sign the Juventus midfielder on loan Douglas Luiz this January.
Spurs and Arsenal are also mentioned as potential destinations for the Brazilian, with journalist Fabrizio Romano confirming that the top four hopes are Nottingham Forest is the other side in the race for his signature.
The 26-year-old moved to the Italian side for £42m over the summer but he had a hard time finding time to play, he made only 13 appearances through all competitions for the Old Lady.
However, the report claims that no formal bid has been submitted for the former Aston Villa player, but that he could be allowed to leave if an acceptable offer is submitted in the coming weeks.
Despite his lack of playing time, he is still an incredible talent, providing an upgrade to the current first team member who has also boasted a move from Old Trafford in recent days.
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Why Luiz would be an upgrade on Mainoo for Man United
Red Devils midfielder Kobbie Mainoo he has been a phenomenal player for the club over the past year, in his breakthrough 12 months as a professional footballer.
From his debut against Everton to his superb strike against Liverpool, to scoring in the FA Cup triumph over rivals Manchester City – he performed beyond imagination, acting well beyond his tender years.
The 19-year-old was also part of England’s Euro 2024 squad under Gareth Southgate, a true indication of his rapid rise to stardom in such a short period.
However, earlier this week it was confirmed that the hierarchy would reportedly consider all acceptable offers for his services this window, as they look to improve their PSR status – with Mainoo offering a net profit given his academic status.
No United fan would want to lose such a promising youngster, but should the worst happen, Luiz would be an excellent replacement, offering an English upgrade for new boss Amor.
The Brazilian, who was previously called “one of the best in the world” of Sky Italia journalist ️ Cristian Giuntoli, there is registered more progressive passes and carries 90 each in 2024/25 – highlighting his forward-thinking nature at the center of the park.
Luiz, who likes to operate as an attacking number eight, is often known for his ability to strike the ball, as evidenced by his shot creation action tally of 90 – managing to score 40% of his effort on the target this campaign.
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How Luiz compares to Mainoo during the 2024/25 season |
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|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (at 90) |
Louise |
Mainoo |
|
Games played |
9 |
14 |
|
Progressive mounts |
3.9 |
1.3 |
|
Progressive additions |
6.1 |
3.9 |
|
Accuracy of shooting at the target |
40% |
11% |
|
Actions to create a shot |
3.9 |
2 |
|
Attack percentage won |
67% |
58% |
|
Download success |
82% |
56% |
|
Airports won |
50% |
45% |
|
Statistics via FBref |
||
Manuel Ugarte’s ball-winning capabilities could free up the former Villa man to continue further forward – adding an extra dimension to the front line with his passing ability and desire to join the attack.
However, he is more than capable of playing a defensive role as well, winning more of his skirmishes compared to Mainoo, and it also came out on top in multiple antennas – potentially a perfect box-to-box option for Amorim.
While competition is undoubtedly fierce for the services of such a top talent, his skills would greatly improve the current midfield offerings at the Theater of Dreams, finally pushing the results in the right direction as a result.
A loan with an option to buy could be a great deal for all parties, especially given the club’s cost-cutting scenario, giving Amorim the tools needed to turn around their recent fortunes.
