3 SIGNINGS MANCHESTER UNITED SHOULD MAKE!

Manchester United recently secured an impressive 2-0 win over their rivals Manchester City, but that certainly doesn’t mean their squad is ready to compete for the Champions League places. It’s been a weird season in the Premier League, meaning United might scrape a spot in the top four, but the reality is, they still need investment after a difficult few years.

Some of United’s most dependable performers this season, such as Bruno Fernandes and, until recently, Casemiro, along with Luke Shaw to an extent, are either ageing or nearing key transition points in their careers. With Casemiro now set to leave, it underlines the reality that there is no guarantee these players will form the core of the squad in the coming years - and even if they do remain, maintaining their current levels cannot be taken for granted.

I’ve picked three signings I think that United need to go to the next level, focusing on young talent with high potential, who I also think could make an impact in the very near future.

Ayyoub Bouaddi

Now, Ayyoub Bouaddi is far from the finished article. I most recently watched him against Paris Saint-Germain, and to be honest, he was fairly non-existent. Which is fine, right? PSG’s midfield options are terrifying, and Lille sat back and absorbed pressure for the majority of the game.

Bouaddi’s data doesn’t even stand out to the level where you say, ‘wow, we need to sign this guy immediately’, but that’s where the eye test and potential judgment, plus a little bit of data, come into play.

Bouaddi is a strong ball-winner in the middle of the park, who loves to carry the ball up the pitch from deep, getting his side out of difficult situations. His long, gangly legs aid him in winning duels and carrying the ball, while he’s comfortable receiving the ball in difficult situations in his own third.

This is a player who is 18 years old, and was playing in Lille’s first team at 17. When Bouaddi wins the ball back, he’s always looking to play quickly, happy to find a team-mate in a better position if necessary.

As mentioned, Bouaddi isn’t the finished product, but to be doing what he does at his age is phenomenal. He already has the physical attributes that set him apart from players at a similar age, and he just needs fine-tuning as he develops.

When comparing Bouaddi’s stats from this season to Manuel Ugarte’s last season (when he was more prominently involved), you can see they are fairly similar, but Bouaddi is much better when it comes to stopping opposition dribblers. In my opinion, this is an underrated metric in a midfielder, and it’s no surprise to see Ugarte ranking so low, with players often bursting past the Uruguayan due to his lack of mobility.

That’s something Bouaddi offers more than Ugarte, his ability to get himself about the pitch effectively. That’s before we even mention that Ugarte is an experienced professional, whereas Bouaddi is still a kid.

Samu Aghehowa

Up next is Samu Aghehowa. Now, the striker market was a busy one in the summer transfer window, with the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, Nick Woltemade and Hugo Ekitike all moving to the Premier League. There’s been mixed results, proving that it’s tough for young center-forwards to come to the Premier League and adapt.

As a result of that, a player like Samu would be a risk, there’s no hiding from that, but I think he’s got the tools to make it in the Premier League.

Samu is a deadly, clinical finisher, scoring almost a goal every 90 minutes for Porto this season. Someone who has struggled coming from the Portuguese league to England is Gyokeres, but where Samu differs is his pace, technical ability, and potential.

With Joshua Zirkzee’s future uncertain, United need a striker capable of competing with Sesko and seriously pushing him. Standing at 6’4, Samu has the physical profile that would mean he’s unlikely to get bullied in England, and his movement in the box makes him stand out from a lot of strikers.

I feel like Samu is ready to explode in a top-five league, and he could be the man to help push Sesko, with United benefitting from the pair of them.

Yan Diomande

Wow, what a talent this guy is. If you haven’t watched him, I suggest you go and do so. Diomande is a dribble specialist. A direct, rapid winger who causes absolute nightmares for full-backs. No player has averaged more successful dribbles per 90 in the Bundesliga this season, a league with Michael Olise, Antonio Nusa, and Luis Diaz, to name a few.

Importantly, Diomande is an efficient carrier of the ball. The tricky winger averages 1.07 carries per 90 that end with a chance, ranking him fourth in the Bundesliga. Diomande also carries the ball 175.4m per 90, more than any other player in the league.

Now, do United need a winger? I think so. Matheus Cunha is great, but I don’t see him as a natural winger. Diomande can play either side, which is hugely beneficial, and he’s a two-way winger, meaning he’s difficult to defend against as you’re unsure where he’s going to go.

As we saw with some of United’s chances against Man City, Carrick’s side are very effective in transition, and the signing of Diomande would take that to the next level. He’s already making an impact in a top-five league, and at the age of 19, the sky is the limit for the young star.

Conclusion

Manchester United don’t need shortcuts or another summer of marquee names to convince themselves they’re back. What they need is a clear, patient rebuild built around players who can grow with the club rather than paper over the cracks.

The three signings highlighted here wouldn’t instantly turn United into Premier League title contenders, but that shouldn’t be the aim right now. Bouaddi, Samu and Diomande all offer different solutions to long-standing problems in the squad, while also fitting the profile of players who could peak at Old Trafford rather than arrive past it.

United have spent years chasing quick fixes. If they want to genuinely move forward, baby steps are required - smart recruitment, younger profiles, and players who can contribute now while developing into cornerstones of the team. Get that right, and nights like the win over Manchester City stop being standout moments and start becoming the standard.