Man Utd race for ‘special’ £87m Semenyo alternative

It’s been another roller coaster year since Manchester Unitedhaving flattered to deceive under Ruben Amorimmanagement.

In the year Premier League In the general ranking, the Red Devils are 13th, with 12 victories and 46 points in 36 matches. It hasn’t been enough, but there’s no doubt we’ve seen signs of progress over the past two months.

Bruno Fernandesas always, has been the club’s shining light, but it is disappointing to see that his 2025 was cut short early, suffering a rare injury in the recent 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.

Could this have changed United’s transfer plans? A deal for Manchester City-bound Antoine Semenyo is in the works, but it would not be outrageous to suggest that the middle of the park is the priority position for INEOS heading into the January market.

Man United’s January transfer plans

Fernandes’ hamstring injury will have changed Man United’s winter transfer strategy. Certainly the 30-year-old skipper isn’t expected to be out for an extended period, but it’s unlikely we’ll see him again before the new year.

Perhaps this is the opportunity Kobbie Mainoo which has been a long time coming, even though the 20-year-old talent injured his calf in training and could himself miss the next few weeks. Just his luck.

According to talkSPORTUnited technical director Jason Wilcox has already turned his attention to an alternative to Semenyo, with a move for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande in the works.

Diomande, 19, has proven himself to be a rising star, having enjoyed a prolific start to life in Germany. His talent is undeniable and his employers transferred him for a whopping £87 million.

He arguably has an even higher ceiling than Semenyo, and given the circumstances, he could turn out to be Amorim’s own Fernandes signing with the Theater of Dreams.

Why Yan Diomandé would be perfect for Man Utd

Diomande is a two-sided winger who has established himself this season as one of the most clinical teenagers in Europe. He joined RB Leipzig from Leganes in Spain this summer, and last year he played just ten times in La Liga, scoring twice.

With seven goals and four assists already this season, the “special footballer, special“, as journalist Antonio Mango called him, has the potential to become a superstar, suggesting he could become the new version of United’s talismanic Fernandes.

This argument is strengthened by the fact that he would arrive in January, as the Portuguese did when he left Sporting Lisbon for an initial fee of £47m in 2020.

Diomandé is dangerous and direct. He’s not stylistically similar to Fernandes, but his prolificacy and ability to offer something distinctive suggests he could benefit from a similar impact. He is, after all, one of the most exciting offensive talents in the world.

Additionally, he ranks in the top 6% of peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, top 3% for progressive carries, top 1% for successful stances and top 12 for tackles per 90, according to FBref.

There is no doubt that Diomandé has superstar potential, and given United’s direct interest in Semenyo in recent weeks, it is clear that he fits the mold set by Amorim’s long-term plan.

The Ivory Coast international has quickly established himself as an elite talent, and although it would cost a pretty penny to bring him to Old Trafford in 2026, there is no doubt that Man United would get value for money.

Just like they did with Fernandes.

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